Sulprostone is an analogue of
prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) that has
oxytocic activity in assays of rat kidney cells and tissues.[1] There are four known receptors which mediate various but often different cellular and tissue responses to PGE2:
prostaglandin EP1 receptor,
prostaglandin EP2 receptor,
prostaglandin EP3 receptor, and
prostaglandin EP4 receptor. Sulprosotone binds to and activates the
prostaglandin EP3 receptor with far greater efficacy than the other PGE2 receptors and also has the advantage of being relatively resistant, compared with PGE2, to becoming metabolically degraded. It is listed as a comparatively weak
receptor agonist of the prostaglandin EP1 receptor. In all events, this as well as other potent synthetic EP3receptor antagonists have the realized or potential ability to promote the beneficial effects of prostaglandin EP3 receptor activation.[2]
Sulprostone (as well as other
prostanoids receptor agonists) is in use for inducting
medical abortion and ending pregnancy after fetal death,[3] for the treatment of severe atonic
postpartum hemorrhage after vaginal delivery,[4] and for removal of the placenta in patients with retained placenta.[5] Currently, sulprostone along with SC-46275, MB-28767, ONO-AE-248 and other EP3 receptor agonists are in development as drugs for the possible treatment of stomach ulcers in humans.[6]
^Moreno JJ (2017). "Eicosanoid receptors: Targets for the treatment of disrupted intestinal epithelial homeostasis". European Journal of Pharmacology. 796: 7–19.
doi:
10.1016/j.ejphar.2016.12.004.
PMID27940058.
S2CID1513449.