Novel hypothalamic arachidonate products stimulate somatostatin release from the median eminence

Arachidonic acid (AA) stimulates the in vitro release of somatostatin (SRIF) from the hypothalamic median eminence (ME). This effect is inhibited by 5, 8, 11, 14-eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA) but not by indomethacin (ID). Microsomal fractions from the rat hypothalamus catalyze an NADPH-dependent metabolism of AA to form several oxygenated products of which the major metabolites are 5, 6-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (5, 6-EET) and its hydration product, 5, 6-dihydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (5, 6-DHET). Both novel arachidonate metabolites, particularly 5, 6-EET, are potent in vitro stimuli for the release of SRIF. To a lesser extent, 5, 6-EET is also capable of evoking luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) release. The results suggest that these "epoxygenase" metabolites of AA may be physiologically involved in the control of SRIF release.