Neuroendocrine involvements of the prostaglandin autacoids.

Abstract

The eicosanoids are a system of lipid autacoids that are considered to play a role in the modulation of central nervous system (CNS) functions. This modulating effect seems to have three components: a) modulation of neuronal function and especially involvements in biological signal transduction at the level of the neuronal membrane: b) modulation of neurotransmitter release at synaptic level; c) modulation of the response amplitude of some CNS centers and areas to various stimuli, with implications in animal and human behaviour. Personal data show that cyclooxygenase inhibitors lower the seizure threshold and amplify the tonic aspect of the electric shock-induced seizure, while imidazole (thromboxane synthetase inhibitor) has no influence on the duration of seizures and seizure-free intervals, but makes the seizures have a clonic rather than tonic aspect.