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Prostaglandins

Meaning

Prostaglandins are a group of potent lipid compounds derived enzymatically from the essential fatty acid arachidonic acid, functioning ubiquitously as local tissue hormones, or autacoids, with rapid turnover. These molecules mediate a vast array of physiological responses, including the initiation of inflammatory processes, modulation of pain signaling, regulation of localized blood flow, and the contraction or relaxation of smooth muscle. In reproductive endocrinology, they are indispensable for processes like ovulation, labor induction, and uterine hemostasis.