Identification of the hatching factor of the barnacle Balanus balanoides as the novel eicosanoid 10,11,12-trihydroxy-5,8,14,17-eicosatetraenoic acid.

Barnacle egg hatching factor which is released into the mantle cavity where the egg masses are brooded and stimulates embryonic musculature resulting in hatching and liberation of the larvae into the sea has been isolated in a purified form from a common barnacle Balanus balanoides. Derivatised hatching factor has been analysed by GC-MS and identified as 10,11,12-trihydroxy-5,8,14,12-eicosatetraenoic acid, a novel eicosanoid probably formed from endogenous eicosapentaenoic acid (20:5w3). Hatching factor activity is the first specific physiological function to be established for this type of compound.