Comparative eicosanoid physiology in invertebrate animals.

A comparative survey of eicosanoid physiology in invertebrate animals is presented. Topics include host skin penetration behavior in blood flukes, oocyte maturation in starfishes, prevention of polyspermic fertilizations in sea urchins, ion regulation in bivalves, egg production in snails, egg release in scallops, neurobiology of Aplysia, hatching in barnacles, and release of egg-laying behavior in some insects. Some eicosanoid actions, such as ion regulation, may be common to most vertebrate and invertebrate animals, whereas other actions, such as mediation of whole organism behavior, are not shared. Comparative physiology is revealing that the biological significance of eicosanoids extends far beyond vertebrate animals.