A postgenomic integrated view of prostaglandins in reproduction: implications for other body systems.

Prostaglandins are primary mediators of pain and are involved in pathological conditions such as hypertension, cancer and inflammation but are also needed for normal function of the female reproductive system. This may hold true for other systems because long term use of selective COX-2 inhibitors such as VIOXX and BEXTRA was associated with heart failure, leading to their withdrawal. A thorough study of the contribution of prostaglandins in the regulation of normal body function is clearly needed.