The prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesizing capacity of human gastrointestinal tissues obtained at surgery was investigated using radioimmunoassay for prostaglandin E2, leukotriene B4 and sulfidopeptide leukotrienes. The leukotriene immunoassay data were validated by high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC). During incubation at 37 degrees C, fragments of human gastric, jejuno-ileal and colonic mucosa released considerably larger amounts of prostaglandin E2 than of leukotriene B4 and sulfidopeptide leukotrienes. Gastrointestinal smooth muscle tissues released even larger amounts of prostaglandin E2, but smaller amounts of leukotrienes than the corresponding mucosal tissues. Adenocarcinoma tissue released larger amounts of leukotriene B4, sulfidopeptide leukotrienes and prostaglandin E2 than normal colonic mucosa. Ionophore A23187 (5 micrograms/ml) did not stimulate release of prostaglandin E2 from any of the tissues investigated, but enhanced release of leukotriene B4 and sulfidopeptide leukotrienes. HPLC analysis demonstrated that immunoreactive leukotriene B4 co-chromatographed almost exclusively with standard leukotriene B4, while immunoreactive sulfidopeptide leukotrienes consisted of a mixture of leukotrienes C4, D4 and E4. Leukotriene synthesis by human gastrointestinal tissues was inhibited by the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and the dual enzyme inhibitor BW755C (3-amino-1-(trifluoromethylphenyl)-2-pyrazoline hydrochloride). Synthesis of prostaglandin E2 was inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin as well as by BW755C. Incubation of gastrointestinal tissues in the presence of glutathione decreased the amounts of leukotrienes D4 and E4, while release of leukotriene C4 was simultaneously increased. On the other hand, incubation of tritiated leukotriene C4 with incubation media from human gastric or colonic mucosa resulted in conversion of the substrate to [3H]leukotriene D4 and [3H]leukotriene E4. The results indicate the capacity of human gastrointestinal tissues to synthesize the 5-lipoxygenase-derived products of arachidonate metabolism, leukotriene B4 and sulfidopeptide leukotrienes, in addition to larger amounts of prostaglandin E2. Furthermore, considerable activities of the sulfidopeptide leukotriene-metabolizing enzymes gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase and dipeptidase were detected in human gastrointestinal tissues. These enzymes might play an important role in biological inactivation and/or change of biological profile of sulfidopeptide leukotrienes generated in the human gastrointestinal tract.