Eicosanoids: prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, and other derivatives of carbon-20 unsaturated fatty acids.
In recent years, knowledge of the biochemistry of oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid has greatly increased. Their biological functions in acceleration and prevention of platelet aggregation and in inflammatory and immune reactions are becoming much clearer. The therapeutic value, particularly of PGI2 as well as selective inhibitors of synthesis, is also rapidly advancing. Despite much effort, the functional importance of prostaglandins and thromboxanes in the cNS in normal ongoing physiological processes is still quite uncertain. However, when parenchymal or vascular elements are damaged or invaded by extraneural cells, the synthesis of one or the other member of the eicosanoids is greatly increased and contributes significantly to pathophysiological reactions. Thus, prevention of synthesis is likely to have increasing importance in clinical neurology, particularly in cerebrovascular diseases.
D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000378:metabolism; D001921:Brain / Q000378:metabolism; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids; D005334:Fever / Q000188:drug therapy; D006801:Humans; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008833:Microcirculation; D009420:Nervous System / Q000378:metabolism*; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines / Q000378:metabolism; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000378:metabolism; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta / Q000378:metabolism; D012640:Seizures / Q000188:drug therapy
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004537:Eicosanoic Acids; D010714:Phosphatidylethanolamines; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011458:Prostaglandins E; D011943:Receptors, Adrenergic, beta; D016718:Arachidonic Acid