Abstract
1
The effects of niridazole and chloroquine on rat arterial and myometrial prostacyclin (PGI2) synthesis in vitro were investigated by use of a rat platelet antiaggregatory bioassay. Niridazole (233 μm) and chloroquine (97 μm) inhibited PGI2 synthesis in both tissues.
2
Niridazole‐induced inhibition in the myometrium was not reversed by exogenous arachidonic acid (33 μm) indicating a direct effect of the compound on PGI2 synthesizing enzymes.
3
Chloroquine‐induced inhibition in the myometrium was significantly reversed by exogenous arachidonic acid (33 μm) indicating a direct effect of the compound on arachidonic acid releasing enzymes (e.g. phospholipases A2 and C).
4
Niridazole and chloroquine also inhibited prostaglandin E2 synthesis in the myometrium.
5
Chloroquine‐and niridazole‐induced inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis may contribute towards a better understanding of some of their actions in vivo.