THE CONTRIBUTION OF CYTOCHROME P450-DEPENDENT ARACHIDONATE METABOLITES TO INTEGRATED RENAL-FUNCTION

Arachidonic acid can be metabolized to diverse products which differ w idely in their biological activities. These metabolites affect basic b iological mechanisms such as vascular reactivity and transport functio n in critical nephron segments. Metabolism of arachidonic acid is disc retely localized to specific cells and differs within segments of the nephron; for example, cells of the medullary ascending limb of Henle's loop have a considerable capacity to generate cytochrome P450-depende nt arachidonate metabolites but have neglible cyclooxygenase activity. Arachidonic acid metabolites participate in fluid and electrolyte hom eostasis, and in the regulation of tissue blood flow, and act as modul ators of vasoactive hormones, and, thereby, make important contributio ns to integrated venal function.