SUMMARY The release of fatty acids from perfused mesenteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and control Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) was studied. The release of the prostaglandin precursors dihomogammalinolenic acid, arachidonte acid, and ekosapentaenoic acid was reduced in SHR when compared with age-matched WKY. The release of all other fatty acids detected in the effluent was also reduced. The differences in fatty add release were evident even when tissue levels of the fatty acids were similar or higher in SHR than in controls. The addition of evening primrose oil and fish oil into the diet partially corrected these defects. Evening primrose oil and fish oil both attentuated increases in blood pressure, but fish oil was more potent than primrose oil. Although both diets reduced vascular reactivity, primrose oil was more effective with lower doses of norepinephrine whereas fish oil blunted the effects of both low and high doses of norepinephrine. added to the diet attenuate the development of hypertension or lower blood pressure in both animals and humans. '-' 4 The mechanism of the hypotensive effect is not well understood, although it is commonly believed to result from alterations in arachidonate-derived cyclooxygenase metabolites. However, both n-6 and n-3 fatty acids lower blood pressure, although their effects on prostaglandin synthesis are dissimilar. The fatty acids themselves alter membrane fluidity and blood viscosity and may have effects on blood pressure that are independent of their conversion to prostaglandins.The effect of diets rich in n-6 fatty acids in rats is generally an increase in tissue arachidonic acid (AA) and its conversion to cyclooxygenase metabolites.8 -I5 In contrast, diets rich in n-3 fatty acids are associated with a decrease in AA and a decrease in the synthesis of its metabolites.8 -l5 -' 7 These opposing observations cast doubt on the relevance of AA and its metabolites in the beneficial effects of PUFAs.Dihomogammalinolenic acid (DGLA) is worthy of further consideration. It gives rise to metabolites that are hypotensive and antiaggregatory and that