SINCE THE TIME of the discovery of prostacyclin' and the elucidation of its chemical structure as prostaglandin (PG) (5Z)-9 deoxy-6, 9 a-epoxy-&APGF,,2 many synthetic prostacyclin analogues have been pre- Many structural variants of prostacyclin have been synthesized, including 5,6-dihydro analogues, exemplified by 6f3-PGI,,3-5 thia prostacyclins such as (5Z)-6,9-thia prostacyclin,6 nitrogen-containing analogues such as 9-deoxy-9a-6-nitrilo-PGF ,7 ring-expanded 5,9-epoxy derivatives such as 9-deoxy-5, 9a-epoxy-PGFI,7 and interphenylene analogues.' However, the synthesis and biological actions of stable carbocyclic analogues of prostacyclin, in which the enol-ether oxygen atom is replaced by a methylene group, has attracted much attention and has been described by several groups.9'6 Carbacyclin analogues. Carbacyclin, or (5E)-6a carbaprostaglandin '2 (figure 1, A), inhibits human platelet aggregation induced by a variety of agents including ADP, collagen, and arachidonic acid, while also inhibiting aggregation in platelet-rich plasma (PRP) obtained from several species, including the rabbit, rat, and dog.12 16 In our studies with carbacyclin,'3 this stable analogue was 0.03 times as potent as prostacyclin as an inhibitor of aggregation induced by ADP (table 1), collagen, and arachidonic acid. As with prostacyclin, the antiaggregating activity of carbacyclin was enhanced by preincubation of platelets with theophylline, the phosphodiesterase inhibitor,'3' 1 ' indicating stimulation of cyclic AMP as its mechanism of inhibitory action. Indeed, other studies have shown an elevation of platelet cyclic AMP after incubation with the analogue. 14 Carbacyclin has been shown to be a potent inhibitor of platelet aggregation ex vivo when infused intravenously in the dog and rabbit, being 0.1 times as active as the parent, prostacyclin.'3 Likewise, this analogue was effective in vivo in reducing formation of thrombi in canine coronary arteries'6 when infused intravenously. Studies with carbacyclin in anesthetized baboons have likewise shown inhibition of platelet aggregation determined ex vivo after intravenous or intragastric administration. 17In our studies in human PRP with analogues synthesized and supplied by the Upjohn Company, (5Z)-carbacyclin was less active than the (5E)-analogue, the latter being isosteric'2 with naturally occurring prostacyclin (5Z-PGI2). As expected, the (15R)-epimer had mimimal activity, as did the 2-nor derivative (table 1). Substitution in the 9 position'5 can also alter antiaggregating potency, with (5Z)-9,8-ethynyl and 9-cyano groupings enhancing activity and 9,3-methyl, 9-pentyl-1-ynyl, and 9-ethyl groupings decreasing activity compared with that induced by carbacyclin itself (table 1).Studies in human PRP with 9,f-methyl-carbacyclin (ciprostene; figure 2, B) have shown it to have comparable potency as an antiaggregating agent against several aggregating agents (table 2). This compound is equiactive in vitro in human PRP and whole blood, and elevates platelet cyclic AMP levels.'9Studies using...