Overnight incubation of rat basophilic leukemia-1 (RBL-1) cells with retinoic acid enhanced calcium ionophore-stimulated syntheses of LTC4 by more than 28-times (from 5.91 +/- 0.31 to 168.31 +/- 22.66 ng/2.10(6) cells) nd LTD4 by more than 7-times (from 5.27 +/- 0.12 to 39.38 +/- 14.89 ng/2.10(6) cells). The stimulatory action first appeared after a 10 h incubation with retinoic acid and was completely abolished by concomitant presence of low concentration cycloheximide (0.5 micrograms/ml) in the medium. However, LTB4 synthesis was dose-dependently inhibited by incubation with retinoic acid. Reduced form of glutathione significantly increased the synthesis of LTC4, but showed no action on the syntheses of LTD4 or LTB4. These results indicate a new enzyme synthesis of LTC4 synthetase.