Abstract
Arachidonic acid (AA, C20 : 4, $\omega$-6) and eicosapentanoic acid (EPA,C20 : 5, $\omega$-3), which are polyunsaturated fatty acids forming eicosanoids, were tested for their effects on blood pressure in Wistar rats and SHR. AA is the most important precursor for the biosynthesis of eicosanoids which include the prostaglandins, prostacyclin (PGI$_2$), thromboxane $A_2$ (TXA$_2$) and the leukotriens. TXA$_2$is a potent vasoconstrictor and a powerful inducer of platelet aggregation causing myocardial infarction and hypertention. In contrast, PGI$_2$ induces vasodilation and inhibits platelet aggregation. In this study, AA markedly increased blood pressure, but its effect was antagonized by both EPA, a structural analog of AA, and dazmegrel, a TX synthetase inhibitor. Also, AA enhanced the antihypertensive effects of hydralazine and captopril, and EPA reduced TXA$_2$ production. These results indicate that the hypotensive effects of EPA might be closely related to the decrease in TXA$_2$ biosynthesis due to competitive inhibition by structural similarity of the EPA to the AA, the precursor of TXA$_2$.