CYCLOOXYGENASES AND THE CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM

Prostaglandins (PGs) were first described in the brain by Samuelsson o ver 30 years ago (Samuelsson, 1964). Since then a large number of stud ies have shown that PGs are formed in regions of the brain and spinal cord in response to a variety of stimuli. The recent identification of two forms of cyclooxygenase (COX; Kujubu et al., 1991; Xie et al., 19 91; Smith and DeWitt, 1996), both of which are expressed in the brain, along with superior tools for mapping COX distribution has spurred a resurgence of interest in the role of PGs in the central nervous syste m (CNS). In this review we will describe new data in this area, focusi ng on the distribution and potential role of the COX iso-forms in brai n function and disease.