Sedation produced by prostaglandins is not a nonspecific fatty acid effect.
The fatty acid specificity of the depressant actions associated with prostaglandin (PG) administration was studied in mice. Administration of PG-E2 (0.4 and 1.0 mg/kg) or PG-D2 (0.4 and 4 mg/kg) significantly potentiated pentobarbital sleeping time. Arachidonic acid (3.3 mg/kg) administration also significantly potentiated pentobarbital sleeping time. Pretreatment with indomethacin (3 mg/kg) or ibuprofen (10 mg/kg) inhibited the potentiation of pentobarbital sleeping time produced by arachidonic acid. A nonspecific fatty acid (11, 14, 17-eicosatrienoic acid), which cannot be incorporated into the PG synthetic scheme, did not potentiate pentobarbital sleeping time. These results imply that the depressant activity associated with PG administration is a specific PG-induced action rather than a general effect of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids.
D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D015237:Dinoprost; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007052:Ibuprofen / Q000494:pharmacology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008815:Mice, Inbred Strains; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011460:Prostaglandins F / Q000494:pharmacology; D012890:Sleep / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D005227:Fatty Acids; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011460:Prostaglandins F; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D015237:Dinoprost; D007052:Ibuprofen; D007213:Indomethacin