Hepoxilin A3 blocks the release of norepinephrine from rat hippocampal slices

Hepoxilin A3 was previously shown to display neuromodulatory actions on rat hippocampal CA1 neurons, with hyperpolarization of the membrane potential, an increase in the amplitude and duration of the post-spike train after hyperpolarization and an increase in the inhibitory post synaptic potential. The present report describes new biochemical evidence of a presynaptic action of hepoxilin A3 in rat hippocampal slices prelabeled with [3H]-norepinephrine. Hepoxilin A3 on its own had a marginal effect on the release of label, but blocked release which was induced by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP). Prostaglandin E2 also behaved in a similar way. These results demonstrate that hepoxilins modulate neurotransmission in the mammalian CNS through both pre- and postsynaptic actions.