title: The effect of essential fatty acid deficiency on eicosanoid production in the inflamed rat colonic mucosa.
abstract: Eicosanoids are potent mediators of inflammation and are synthesized in increased quantity in active ulcerative colitis. To elucidate the role of prostaglandin E2, thromboxane A2, prostaglandin I2, and leukotriene B2 in acute chemical colitis induced by 4% acetic acid, we utilized an animal model which has a deficiency of arachidonic acid, the precursor of eicosanoids due to an essential fatty acid deficient diet. Forty-eight hours after colitis was induced, mucosal synthesis of the cyclooxygenase products, prostaglandin E2, thromboxane A2, and prostaglandin I2, was significantly decreased in essential fatty acid deficient rats compared to normal controls. However, the 5-lipoxygenase product, leukotriene B4, was not different between groups. The decrease in cyclooxygenase products did not correlate with any change in the severity of colonic inflammation as assessed by gross morphology, histology, or myleoperoxidase activity. Thus inhibition of formation of the cyclooxygenase products of arachidonate metabolism does not appear to improve the degree of inflammation under the experimental conditions employed in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Rush University, Chicago, Illinois 60612.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Short
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Weidman
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Sabesin
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Sharon
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates; D019342:Acetic Acid; D000818:Animals; D003092:Colitis / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015777:Eicosanoids / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential / Q000172:deficiency*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007413:Intestinal Mucosa / Q000378:metabolism; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D015777:Eicosanoids; D005228:Fatty Acids, Essential; D007975:Leukotriene B4; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D019342:Acetic Acid