The metabolism of arachidonic and linoleic acid in rabbit peritoneal tissue: a short review.

The results obtained in the biotransformation studies demonstrate that lipoxygenase and PG-cyclo-oxygenase reactions represent major pathways in the metabolism of both arachidonic and linoleic acid in rabbit peritoneal tissue. Although the physiological significance of the hydroxy derivatives of arachidonic acid and linoleic acid is still unclear, it is tempting to assume that in tissues containing lipoxygenase activity, some of the effects ascribed to hydroxy arachidonates and their hydroperoxy precursors, e.g. inhibition of leukotriene and of PGI2 biosynthesis (16, 17) could for a great part be invoked by linoleic acid derivatives, as these products can be formed in larger quantities than the corresponding arachidonate derivatives.