Human umbilical blood vessel converts all cis-5, 8, 11, 14, 17 eicosapentaenoic acid to prostaglandin I3

All cis-5, 8, 11, 14, 17 eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) is presently being evaluated for dietary prophylactic use in thrombo-embolic disorders. EPA inhibits the production of TXA2 and platelet aggregation. We here present results demonstrating that human umbilical arteries convert 14c-EPA to a substance that in aqueous solutions decomposes to 14C-delta 17-6-keto-PGF1 alpha . The conversion rate in rat aortic tissue was found substantially lower. These results in combination with earlier data indicating that EPA does not influence the conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) into PGI2 in human vascular tissue, encourage further research along the lines initiated by the findings of high EPA/AA ratio and low incidence of myocardial infarction in Greenland Eskimos.