(5E)-6a-Carbaprostaglandin I2 (carbacyclin) was oxidized to (5E)-15-dehydro-6a-carbaprostaglandin I2 (15-dehydrocarbacyclin) by partially purified rhesus monkey lung prostaglandin dehydrogenase (PGDH). The (5E-15-dehydro-6a-carbaprostaglandin I2 was isolated by preparative thin-layer chromatography and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. A Lineweaver-Burke plot gave an apparent Km value of 2.9 microM and a Vmax of 35.7 nmoles carbacyclin oxidized/mg protein/min. These values are similar to previously reported Km and Vmax values for PGI2 and PGE1.