Potent inhibition of prostaglandin inactivation in rabbit gastric antral mucosal slices by selenium ions in-vitro.

The effect of selenium ions on prostaglandin (PG) catabolism and synthesis in rabbit gastric antral mucosal slices has been examined. Selenium ions had a potent inhibitory effect on the inactivation process for PGE2 and PGF2 alpha. Simultaneously, the levels of PGE2 and PGF2 alpha were increased. These results suggest that selenium ions have the potential to increase the levels of biologically active PGs in gastric mucosa by preventing their inactivation and that this effect may represent some pharmacological action of selenium ions.