Arachidonic acid and renal function

Arachidonic acid (AA) is an essential fatty acid (FA) classified as belonging to the ω-6 group. It is a polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) found in all meats especially redmeat, dairy fat, and egg yolks. It is stored in the cell membranes and is responsible forsending signals of adaptive changes in the case of muscle damage or other types ofstimuli. The AA cascade generates a family of bioactive lipids that modulate diversephysiological and pathophysiological responses. Three main pathways are involved in themetabolism of AA in the kidneys that produce different AA metabolites which are knownto play vital functions in the renal system. These three main pathways includemonooxygenase, cyclooxygenase, and lipooxygenase. Out of the three pathways, thecyclooxygenase pathway plays the most important role in the renal system. Themetabolites coming from this pathway are the prostaglandins (PGs) and their functions,interactions, and locations in the renal system will be discussed in depth in this chapter.Lastly, the metabolites coming from the monooxygenase and lipooxygenase pathwayswill be briefly discussed in this chapter. © 2013 by Nova Science Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.