Physiological Effects of the Prostanoids

A. The prostanoids have a wide variety of physiologic effects, but they regulate these processes locally by binding to a receptor on the plasma membrane of a cell close to where the prostanoid was synthesized. Binding of the prostanoid to the receptor nsually activates a GTP-binding protein, which acts to activate (or inhibit) adenylate cyclase or the phosphatidylinositol cascade. 

The identification and characterization of prostanoid receptors has occurred during the past 10 years [11]. These results coupled with studies of PGHS and prostanoid receptor knockout mice have been critical to rationalize earlier results of studies on the physiological and pharmacological actions of prostanoids that had been somewhat confusing and difficult to interpret because PGs were found to cause such a wide variety of seemingly paradoxical effects. 

Prostanoids, the prostaglandins, and thromboxane are end products of fatty acid metabolism with important physiological functions and pathological effects in areas relevant to pain. 

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