Prostaglandins and renal blood flow: In vivo studies

Data have been reviewed demonstrating that PGE₂, PGD₂, and PGI₂, all of which are produced within the kidney, are direct renal vasodilators when administered to most species. It is possible that one role for these renal vasodilators is to maintain RBF during the stress of acute trauma or surgery. Indeed, prostaglandins may function more as modulators of vasoconstricting actions or mediators of vasodilating actions of other hormones than as direct renal vasodilators themselves.