Lipoxygenases in rat embryo tissue.

It has previously been reported that rat embryonic tissue produces various prostanoids. This report demonstrates that rat embryo homogenates synthesized various lipoxygenase metabolites, including 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) as the major metabolite, 5-HETE, and 15-HETE. The cyclooxygenase product 11-HETE was also formed. Product identification was based on radioimmunoassay and comparison of reverse-phase- and straight-phase-high-pressure liquid chromatography retention times with authentic standards. Additional evidence was the observation that the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid inhibited HETE formation. It appears that, under the same (though not necessarily optimal) experimental conditions, lipoxygenase metabolites predominate quantitatively over cyclooxygenase pathway products and that 11-day embryonic tissue produces more HETEs than either 12-day or 13-day embryo homogenates.