Supplementation with n-3 and n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids: effects on lipoxygenase activity and clinical symptoms of pruritus in hemodialysis patients.

Objective: To investigate the effect of supplementation with different sources of oils rich in long chain fatty acids, ie, fish oil (FO) and safflower oil (SO), on the production of leukotriene B4 (LTB4) by polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) in hemodialysis patients and the consequent effects on the symptoms of pruritus.

Design: Randomized, prospective, double-blind study for 2 treatment groups.

Setting: Three Medical Center-affiliated units.

12-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid mediate metabotropic glutamate receptor-dependent long-term depression at hippocampal CA3-CA1 synapses.

Arachidonic acid metabolites have been proposed as signaling molecules in hippocampal long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD) for >15 years. However, the functional role of these molecules remains controversial. Here we used a multidisciplinary biochemical, electrophysiological, and genetic approach to examine the function of the 12-lipoxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid in long-term synaptic plasticity at CA3-CA1 synapses.