In vitro effect of prostaglandins, prostaglandin endoperoxides and thromboxane on rat intestinal alkaline phosphatase and (Ca2+ – Mg2+) adenosine triphosphatase.

The activity of alkaline phosphate and Ca2+–Mg2+ adenosine triphosphatase, two of the enzymes involved in limpid and calcium uptake across the intestinal membrane, were increased in experimental atherosclerosis. Administration of Annapavala sindhooram, an antiatherosclerotic drug, lowers these enzyme levels to near normal values. Prostaglandin E2 stimulated the enzyme activities in vitro, while prostaglandin endoperoxide inhibited the activity. Thromboxane and other prostaglandins had no effect on the enzyme activities. Addition of the antiatherosclerotic drug to the in vitro assay system reversed the effect of both prostaglandin E2 and prostaglandin endoperoxide.