Formation of arachidonate lipoxygenase metabolites by human fetal membranes, uterine decidua vera and placenta.

Homogenates (1000 x g supernatant fraction) of human amnion, chorion laeve, decidua vera and placenta were incubated with [1(-14)C] arachidonic acid in the presence or absence of indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase activity and nordihydroguairetic acid (NDGA), an inhibitor of lipoxygenase activity. After incubation, the products were extracted with ethyl acetate and identified by thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The major lipoxygenase products formed by human amnion, decidua vera and placenta were 12-L-hydroxy-5,8,10,14-eicosatretetraenoic acid (12-HETE) and smaller amounts of 5-HETE. Chorion laeve produced only a trace amount of 12-HETE. The formation of these products was abolished by NDGA and slightly stimulated by indomethacin. These findings demonstrate the existence of lipoxygenase activity in human intra-uterine tissues and suggest that products of lipoxygenase activity in these tissues may regulate the recruitment of leukocytes and/or macrophages during pregnancy and parturition.