Regulation of Eicosanoid Pathways: A Pathway to Health and Development

There are few biological pathways that are more central to overall in cardiovascular disease is best shown by the benefits of the use human and animal health than the eicosanid pathway. The of COX inhibitors. Central in the pathway of fat accretion and eicosanoids are central not only to the inflammatory pathway, but metabolism are both the leukotrienes and prostaglandins (Forman metabolic diseases such as obesity, arteriosclerosis, autoimmunity, et al., 1995; Sessler and Ntambi, 1998). Inhibition of COX cancer, growth, pain, and development. Tools for the regulation products is known to prolong the life and improve the quality of of this pathway have always been with us, but have been life of patients with arthritic and lupus autoimmune disorders neglected and ignored. In this short summary, a description of the (Yang et al., 2000), and there is limited evidence that inhibition of eicosanoid pathway, diseases related to the pathway, and a the general eicosanoid pathway may improve animal growth and method to manipulate the pathway will be presented. Manipulation feed efficiency. of the eicosanoid pathway provides a potential mechanism for the If the ecosaniod pathway is important in the regulation of normal replacement of antibiotics in animal feeds for improving growth physiological processes, what are the consequences of regulating and feed efficieny. it, and how should it be regulated? Is there the possibility that Eicosanoid Pathway: Eicosanoids are a family of lipid mediators on the eicosanoid pathway? If one were to regulate the eicosanoid regulating numerous physiological processes (Hwang, 1989). pathway, how would they do it and what would be the Theses lipid mediators are derived from the fatty acid, linoleic acid unintended consequences and benefits