Prostamides are a class of

physiologically Physiology (; ) is the scientific study of functions and mechanisms in a living system. As a sub-discipline of biology, physiology focuses on how organisms, organ systems, individual organs, cells, and biomolecules carry out the chemical ...

active,

lipid Lipids are a broad group of naturally-occurring molecules which includes fats, waxes, sterols, fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D, E and K), monoglycerides, diglycerides, phospholipids, and others. The functions of lipids include ...

-like substances chemically related to

prostaglandin The prostaglandins (PG) are a group of physiologically active lipid compounds called eicosanoids having diverse hormone-like effects in animals. Prostaglandins have been found in almost every tissue in humans and other animals. They are derive ...

s. They occur naturally in humans and other animals. The first prostamide, called prostamide E₂, was discovered in 1997.

Biochemistry

Prostamides are synthesized in the body from

anandamide Anandamide (ANA), also known as ''N''-arachidonoylethanolamine (AEA), is a fatty acid neurotransmitter. Anandamide was the first endocannabinoid to be discovered: it participates in the body's endocannabinoid system by binding to cannabinoid rec ...

, which is the

ethanolamide Ethanolamides are chemical compounds which are amides formed from carboxylic acids and ethanolamine. Some ethanolamides are naturally occurring, such as anandamide, palmitoylethanolamide and prostamides, which play physiological roles as lipid neur ...

arachidonic acid Arachidonic acid (AA, sometimes ARA) is a polyunsaturated omega-6 fatty acid 20:4(ω-6), or 20:4(5,8,11,14). It is structurally related to the saturated arachidic acid found in cupuaçu butter. Its name derives from the New Latin word ''arachi ...

(ARA). This pathway is parallel to the synthesis of prostaglandins from ARA itself. The enzymes involved are at least partly the same as those responsible for prostaglandin synthesis. It is thought that prostamides act via a specific

receptor Receptor may refer to: * Sensory receptor, in physiology, any structure which, on receiving environmental stimuli, produces an informative nerve impulse *Receptor (biochemistry), in biochemistry, a protein molecule that receives and responds to a ...

(or several receptors) which is distinct from the

prostaglandin receptor Prostaglandin receptors or prostanoid receptors represent a sub-class of cell surface membrane Receptor (biochemistry), receptors that are regarded as the primary receptors for one or more of the classical, naturally occurring prostanoids viz., pros ...

s. No such receptor has been identified .

Nomenclature

The names of prostamides are derived from the corresponding prostaglandin. For example, prostamide E₂ is the ethanolamide of prostaglandin E₂ (dinoprostone).

Clinical significance

The anti-

glaucoma Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that result in damage to the optic nerve (or retina) and cause vision loss. The most common type is open-angle (wide angle, chronic simple) glaucoma, in which the drainage angle for fluid within the eye rem ...

drug

bimatoprost Bimatoprost, sold under the brand name Lumigan among others, is a medication used to treat high pressure inside the eye including glaucoma. Specifically it is used for open angle glaucoma when other agents are not sufficient. It may also be used ...

is a derivative of prostamide F_2α, and is thought to have the same mechanism of action.

References

{{reflist, 35em, refs= {{cite journal, pmc=2241799, year=2007, last1=Woodward, first1=D. F., title=Prostamides (prostaglandin-ethanolamides) and their pharmacology, journal=British Journal of Pharmacology, volume=153, issue=3, pages=410–419, last2=Liang, first2=Y, last3=Krauss, first3=A. H., doi=10.1038/sj.bjp.0707434, pmid=17721551 {{cite journal, pmc=4422110, year=2015, last1=Shelnut, first1=E. L., title=Design and synthesis of novel prostaglandin E2 ethanolamide and glycerol ester probes for the putative prostamide receptor(s), journal=Tetrahedron Letters, volume=56, issue=11, pages=1411–1415, last2=Nikas, first2=S. P., last3=Finnegan, first3=D. F., last4=Chiang, first4=N, last5=Serhan, first5=C. N., last6=Makriyannis, authorlink6=Alexandros Makriyannis, first6=A, doi=10.1016/j.tetlet.2015.01.164, pmid=25960577 {{cite journal, pmid=26031663, pmc=4513984, year=2015, last1=Urquhart, first1=P, title=Identification of prostamides, fatty acyl ethanolamines, and their biosynthetic precursors in rabbit cornea, journal=Journal of Lipid Research, volume=56, issue=8, pages=1419–33, last2=Wang, first2=J, last3=Woodward, first3=D. F., last4=Nicolaou, first4=A, doi=10.1194/jlr.M055772 Drugs.com: Bimatoprost {{drugs.com, monograph, bimatoprost. {{cite book, title=Austria-Codex, editor=Haberfeld, H, publisher=Österreichischer Apothekerverlag, location=Vienna, year=2015, language=German Prostaglandins