[Distribution of 5-, 12-lipoxygenases in porcine ciliary epithelial cells]

Nonpigmented epithelial cells (NPE) and pigmented epithelial cells (PE) were separated from porcine ciliary processes without protease treatment. The relative capabilities of NPE and PE to synthesize 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (5-HETE), 12-HETE, 5,12-diHETE from 1- (14C) arachidonic acid were determined by high pressure liquid chromatography. The capability of NPE to synthesize 5-lipoxygenase and 12-lipoxygenase products was, respectively, 5-fold and 2,5-fold higher than that of PE. The formation of 5-HETE, 12-HETE and 5,12-diHETE was inhibited almost completely by 50 microM nordihydroguaiaretic acid. It was suggested that NPE played a role in the regulation of aqueous humor formation and intraocular inflammation.