and chemical stimuli in a wide range of animal species including humans. Oxidative stress Cultured rat RINm5F pancreatic islet cells undergoing oxidative stress secrete HxB3; HxB3 (and HxA3) in turn upregulates peroxidase enzymes which act to decrease this stress; it is proposed that this HxB3-triggered induction of oxidases constitutes a general compensatory defense response used by a variety of cells to protect their vitality and functionality. Insulin secretion The insulin-secreting actions of HxA3 and HxB3 on isolate rat pancreatic islet cells involves their ability to increase or potentiate the insulin-secreting activity of glucose, requires very high concentrations (e.g. 2 micromolar) of the hepoxilins, and has not been extended to intact animals or humans. Hepoxilins are also produced in the brain. References Human physiology Animal physiology Metabolic pathways Fatty acids Eicosanoids Immunology Cell signaling