Prostaglandin

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A group of lipid compounds that are derived from fatty acids and have various hormone-like effects, particularly in regulating inflammation and immunity
2. Biologically active substances that play crucial roles in processes such as the modulation of inflammation, pain, and blood flow
3. Hormone-like agents produced in the body that influence numerous physiological functions including vasodilation, smooth muscle contraction, and the inflammatory response

Etymology: The name rests on a mistake. In the 1930s, researchers studying seminal fluid believed the substance they were isolating came from the prostate gland, so they named it after that organ. The German word "Prostaglandin" was built from "Prostata" (prostate) and "Glandula" (gland), with the chemical ending "-in" added. The name was coined in German, and the chemistry later turned out to have little to do with the prostate, since these compounds are produced in tissues throughout the body. The word has stayed in use anyway, and the prostate link survives only in the name. The compounds it describes act locally, close to where they are made, and they influence processes such as inflammation, fever, and blood flow. Scientists kept the original label once its origin was understood to be mistaken, because the name had already become standard across research.

Synonyms: hormone, biochemical, mediator, substance, compound