Regulation of glial inflammatory mediators synthesis: possible role of endothelins.

Endothelins are well known as modulators of inflammation in the periphery, but little is known about their possible role in brain inflammation. Stimulation of astrocyte prostaglandin, an inflammatory mediator, synthesis was shown so far only by endothelin 3 (ET-3). By contrast, several studies showed no change or slight decrease of basal nitric oxide synthesis after treatment of astrocytes with endothelin 1 (ET-1) and ET-3.

Inhibitory effect of somatostatin on prostaglandin E2 synthesis by primary neonatal rat glial cells.

Glial inflammation plays an integral role in the development of neurodegenerative disease. Although somatostatin is known to be a local anti-inflammatory factor in the periphery, evidence of a similar function in the brain is scarce. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of somatostatin on prostaglandin E(2) synthesis in primary neonatal rat glial cells.