Arachidonic acid (AA)
metabolism in the non-pregnant
sheep uterus was studied
in vitro using conventional chromatographic and
HPLC techniques. High expression of both
lipoxygenase (LOX) as well as
cyclooxygenase (COX)
enzymes and their activities was found in the uterine
tissues. On incubation of uterine enymes with AA, the LOX products formed were identified as 5-hydroperoxyeicosatetraenoic
acid (5-HPETE), 12- and 15-
hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acids (12- and 15-HETEs), based on their
separation on TLC and
HPLC. By employing differential
salt precipitation
techniques, the LOXs generating products 5-HPETE (5-LOX),
12-HETE and 15-
HETE (12- and 15-dual LOX) were isolated. Based on their
analysis on TLC, the COX products formed were identified as
prostaglandins -
PGF2alpha and
prostacyclin derivative 6-keto PGF1alpha. The study forms the first
report on the comprehensive
analysis on the
metabolism of AA in
sheep uterus in vitro via the LOX and COX pathways.