Arachidonic acid metabolism and casein secretion in lactating rabbit mammary epithelial cells: effects of inhibitors of prostaglandins and leukotrienes synthesis

The metabolism of arachidonic acid (AA) in fragments of lactating rabbit mammary glands in vitro was studied by considering the distribution of 13-14C]AA in the cells, and the effects of inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathway on the basal and prolactin (PRL)-stimulated casein secretion. 13-14C]AA was incorporated in all classes of lipids and PRL increased transiently the percentage of free fatty acid after 1 and 5 min. Ten microM ETYA (5,8,11,14-Eicosatetraynoic acid), a tetrayne analogue of AA inhibited prostaglandins F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) production but not leukotrienes B4 and C4 (LTB4 and LTC4) production and increased basal casein secretion. 10(-4) M DCHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) a competitive inhibitor of prostaglandin-synthetase inhibited PGF2 alpha production but did not affect basal nor PRL-stimulated casein secretion. Fourteen microM indomethacin inhibited PGF2 alpha and LTC4 production and PRL-stimulated casein secretion. Ten microM NdgA (nordihydroguaiaretic acid) an inhibitor of lipoxygenase pathway, inhibited LTB4 and LTC4 production, increased basal level of casein secretion and inhibited PRL-stimulated casein secretion. Hundred microM caffeic acid, an inhibitor of glutathione-S-transferase (GST), a class of enzymes implied in the transformation of LTA4 into LTC4, had the same effect that NDGA on basal and PRL-stimulated casein secretion. These findings show that inhibitors of AA metabolites alter casein secretion.