Increased eicosanoid levels in the Sugen/chronic hypoxia model of severe pulmonary hypertension.

Inflammation and altered immunity are recognized components of severe pulmonary arterial hypertension in human patients and in animal models of PAH. While eicosanoid metabolites of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase pathways have been identified in the lungs from pulmonary hypertensive animals their role in the pathogenesis of severe angioobliterative PAH has not been examined. Here we investigated whether a cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) inhibitor or diethylcarbamazine (DEC), that is known for its 5-lipoxygenase inhibiting and antioxidant actions, modify the development of PAH in the Sugen 5416/hypoxia (SuHx) rat model. The COX-2 inhibitor SC-58125 had little effect on the right ventricular pressure and did not prevent the development of pulmonary angioobliteration. In contrast, DEC blunted the muscularization of pulmonary arterioles and reduced the number of fully obliterated lung vessels. DEC treatment of SuHx rats, after the lung vascular disease had been established, reduced the degree of PAH, the number of obliterated arterioles and the degree of perivascular inflammation. We conclude that the non-specific anti-inflammatory drug DEC affects developing PAH and is partially effective once angioobliterative PAH has been established.

Smooth muscle pharmacology in the isolated virgin and pregnant rat uterus and cervix.

Uterine smooth muscle function is established, but comparatively little is known about cervical smooth muscle pharmacology. We performed a proof-of-principle experiment that smooth muscle was expressed in the cervix in both virgin and pregnant rats, using the uterus as a comparator. We tested whether all tissues were pharmacologically responsive to contractile and relaxant agonists. Immunohistochemistry revealed the expression of smooth muscle α-actin in all tissues. The isolated tissue bath was used to measure isometric contractility of uterine strips and whole cervices from virgin and pregnant (day 11 ± 2) female Sprague-Dawley rats. We tested classic activators of uterine smooth muscle contraction and relaxation in both uterus and cervix. All tissues contracted to the depolarizing agent potassium chloride, prostaglandin F2α, muscarinic cholinergic agonist carbachol [2-[(aminocarbonxyl)oxy]-N,N,N-trimethylethanaminium chloride], and 5-hydroxytryptamine. Unlike other tissues, the pregnant cervix did not contract to oxytocin, but the oxytocin receptor was present. Both cervix and uterus (virgin and pregnant) had concentration-dependent, near-complete relaxation to the adrenergic agonist norepinephrine and adenylate cyclase activator forskolin [(3R,4aR,5S,6S,6aS,10S,10aR,10bS)-6,10-10b-trihydroxy-3,4a,7,10a-pentamethyl-1-oxo-3-vinyldodecahydro-1H-benzo[f] chroment-5-yl acetate]. The ß-adrenergic receptor agonist isoproterenol was less potent in pregnant cervix versus virgin by ∼10-fold. All tissues, particularly the cervix, responded poorly to the nitric-oxide donor sodium nitroprusside, relaxing ∼20% maximally. These findings support the importance of smooth muscle in the cervix, the use of the isolated cervix in pharmacological studies, and a similarity between smooth muscle pharmacology of the nonpregnant uterus and cervix. This work highlights the unappreciated smooth muscle function of the cervix versus uterus and cervical changes in pharmacology during pregnancy.

Tafluprost protects rat retinal ganglion cells from apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.

BACKGROUND: To investigate whether tafluprost, which is a prostaglandin-related compound and an anti-glaucoma drug, has a direct anti-apoptotic effect in cultured retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) and rat RGCs in retinas with optic nerve crush (ONC). METHODS: RGC-5 cells were induced to undergo apoptosis by a serum deprivation and by exogenous glutamate. The level of cell death with or without tafluprost was monitored by an XTT assay and by immunocytochemistry with activated caspase-3. Changes in intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) levels were measured with fluo-4 fluorescence. Rat RGCs were degenerated by ONC. After topical instillation of tafluprost for 7 and 14 days, the numbers of retrograde-labeled RGCs were counted. Retinal flatmounts were subjected to terminal dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) staining to detect apoptotic cells. RESULTS: Tafluprost dose-dependently promoted RGC-5 cell viability with an optimum concentration of 3 microM (p = 0.006). Tafluprost significantly reduced caspase-3-positive cells and suppressed [Ca(+2)]i evoked by exogenous glutamate. The cGMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor and KT-5823 partially blocked the rescue effect of tafluprost (p = 0.002). The survival rate of RGCs significantly increased in eyes treated with tafluprost (p = 0.01), and the prevalence of TUNEL-positive cells was significantly decreased 14 days after ONC (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that tafluprost has an anti-apoptotic effect in RGCs.

PGF(2alpha), a prostanoid released by endothelial cells activated by hypoxia, is a chemoattractant candidate for neutrophil recruitment.

Despite increasing evidence supporting the involvement of neutrophils in ischemic and postischemic damages, the mechanisms underlying the early recruitment of these cells are not completely understood. In this report, the effects of conditioned media from hypoxic endothelial cells on neutrophil chemotaxis were investigated by biochemical and morphological studies. We showed that conditioned media collected from several endothelial cell origins submitted to hypoxia as well as ischemic rat liver perfusion liquids have a chemotactic activity for neutrophils. The role of various chemoattractant molecules like HETEs, platelet-activating factor, and cytokines such as interleukin-8 and interleukin-1 was examined in the same model. Chemotactic peptide contribution was ruled out as boiled conditioned media still trigger chemotaxis. However, cell treatment with cyclooxygenase inhibitors, neutralization of PGF(2alpha) biological activity with polyclonal antibodies, and the neutrophil preincubation with a specific PGF(2alpha) antagonist, all dramatically inhibited neutrophil chemotaxis. A strong chemoattractant effect of pure exogenous PGF(2alpha) or of a synthetic analog was also observed. The major effect of PGF(2alpha) on neutrophil chemotaxis was confirmed ex vivo in a rat liver perfusion ischemic model. These results suggest that PGF(2alpha), a prostanoid abundantly released by the endothelium of hypoxic or ischemic tissues, is a chemoattractant molecule that might be involved in the early recruitment of neutrophils in ischemic organs.

Presence of an intracellular endometrial inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis during early pregnancy in the cow.

Previous studies have detected reduced endometrial secretion of prostaglandins during pregnancy in cattle. The present experiment tested the hypothesis that reduced secretion of prostaglandins is caused by induction of an intracellular endometrial inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis. The microsomal fraction of parturient bovine cotyledons was utilized as a source of enzymes for prostaglandin synthesis. Endometrial tissues collected at Day 17 of the estrous cycle (n = 12) and pregnancy (n = 12) were homogenized and subjected to differential centrifugation for preparation of microsomes and a high-speed (100,000 x g) cytosolic supernatant. Endometrial intracellular preparations were then examined for the ability to modulate prostaglandin synthesis by cotyledonary microsomes from parturient cows. Endometrial intracellular preparations from cyclic cows decreased (P less than 0.05) PGF synthesis by cotyledonary microsomes to a slight extent (supernatant, 21% reduction; microsomes, 11% reduction), while preparations from pregnant cows markedly decreased (P less than 0.01) PGF synthesis (supernatant, 63% reduction; microsomes, 28% reduction; supernatants vs microsomes, P less than 0.01). Regardless of the amount of arachidonic acid available as substrate (25-400 micrograms) endometrial supernatant from pregnant cows (pooled sample) caused a 50% inhibition (IC50) of prostaglandin synthesis at a tissue equivalent of 270 +/- 9.1 mg. The mechanism of inhibition by endometrial high-speed supernatant from pregnant cows appears to be non-competitive with respect to arachidonic acid. The inhibitor(s) may be proteinaceous (70-75 kDa and 25-35 kDa) and can be precipitated by 20% saturated ammonium sulfate. In conclusion, early pregnancy in cattle appears to be associated with increased amounts of an intracellular endometrial inhibitor of prostaglandin synthesis.

Pertussis toxin abolishes the inhibitory effects of prostaglandins E1, E2, I2 and F2 alpha on hormone-induced cAMP accumulation in cultured hepatocytes.

Several prostaglandins inhibit the cAMP response to glucagon and beta-adrenergic stimulation in hepatocytes. To probe the mechanism of this inhibition, we have examined in primary hepatocyte cultures how pretreatment with pertussis toxin (islet-activating protein) influences the ability of the cells to respond to hormones and prostaglandins. Pertussis toxin augmented the effects of glucagon, epinephrine and isoproterenol, and also markedly enhanced the cAMP response to prostaglandin E1 (PGE1). Furthermore, whereas PGE1, PGE2, PGI2 and PGF2 alpha attenuated the cAMP responses to glucagon in control cultures, this inhibition was abolished in cells pretreated with pertussis toxin. A more detailed comparison was made of the effects of PGE1 and PGF2 alpha. In cells not treated with pertussis toxin, both these prostaglandins at high concentrations reduced the cAMP response to glucagon and isoproterenol by approximately 50%, but dose-effect curves showed that PGE1 was about 100-fold more potent as an inhibitor than PGF2 alpha. Pertussis toxin abolished the inhibitory effects of PGE1 and PGF2 alpha with almost identical time and dose requirements. The results obtained with PGE1, PGE2, PGI2 and PGF2 alpha suggest that prostaglandins of different series attenuate hormone-activable adenylate cyclase in hepatocytes through a common mechanism, dependent on the inhibitory GTP-binding protein.

Pharmacodynamic effects of tosyl-arginine methyl ester (TAME) on isolated human arteries.

1. The effects of the competitive proteinase inhibitor TAME on isolated human umbilical and basilar arteries were studied. 2. Most experiments were performed on umbilical arteries and showed that 5 x 10(-4) M or 5 x 10(-3) M TAME significantly inhibited contractions elicited by prostaglandin F2 alpha, bradykinin, serotonin, and histamine. The inhibition was not endothelium-dependent. 3. The contraction elicited by prostaglandin E2 in basilar arteries was inhibited by TAME in a dose-dependent manner indicating that inhibition did not depend on the origin of the vessel. 4. Inhibition by 5 x 10(-7) M TAME of the contraction produced by KCl in the basilar artery was limited to low concentrations of KCl (10 and 30 mM). TAME did not significantly inhibit contractions of umbilical arteries to KCl. 5. At 5 U/ml (approximately 8.6 x 10(-8) M) antithrombin III markedly inhibited contractions of basilar arteries to prostaglandin E2 but had no effect of contractions elicited by 10(-6) M serotonin in the umbilical artery, nor did aprotinin (5 x 10(-4) M). 6. Although vessels of different origin may differ in sensitivity, the manifest effect of antiproteinases on arteries is inhibition.

Anhydrolevuglandin D2 inhibits the uterotonic activity of prostaglandins F2 alpha and D2.

Anhydrolevuglandin D2 (AnLGD2), which is produced from PGH2 by a water-induced rearrangement and subsequent dehydration, is uterotonic. However, increasing concentrations caused decreased responses of the uterine horns. AnLGD2 inhibited responses of uteri to stimulation by specific prostaglandins. PGF2 alpha was inhibited at an AnLGD2:PGF2 alpha ratio of 0.05:1 with 5 to 25 pg/ml concentrations of PGF2 alpha. The response to PGD2 was inhibited at an AnLGD2:PGD2 ratio of 0.05:1 with PGD2 concentrations of 5 to 75 pg/ml. In contrast, the uterotonic effects of PGE2 were not inhibited by AnLGD2. When AnLGD2 was added to baths with contracting uteri it inhibited contractions less if the exposure period was 5 min than if it was 10 min. The longer exposure times produced prolonged inhibition of contractile activity with bath concentrations of AnLGD2 as little as 2.5 pg/ml.

Prostaglandin E2 counteracts the effects of PGF2 alpha in indomethacin treated cycling gilts.

Twenty crossbred gilts with at least 2 consecutive estrous cycles of 18 to 21 days in length were used to study the effects of prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha (PGE2 and PGF2 alpha) on luteal function in indomethacin (INDO) treated cycling gilts. Intrauterine and jugular vein catheters were surgically placed before day 7 of the treatment estrous cycle and gilts were randomly assigned to 1 of 5 treatment groups (4/group). With exception of the controls (Group I) all gilts received 3.3 mg/kg INDO every 8 h, Groups III, IV and V received 2.5 mg PGF2; 2.5 mg PGF2 alpha + 400 micrograms PGE2 every 4 hr, or 400 micrograms PGE2 every 4 h, respectively. All treatments were initiated on day 7 and continued until estrus or day 23. Jugular blood for progesterone analysis was collected twice daily from day 7 to 30. Estradiol-17 beta (E2-17 beta) concentrations were determined in samples collected twice daily, from 2 d before until 2 d following the day of estrus onset. When compared to pretreatment values, estrous cycle length was unaffected (P greater than 0.05) in Group I, prolonged (P less than 0.05) in Groups II, IV and V; and shortened (P less than 0.05) in Group III. The decline in plasma progesterone concentration that normally occurs around day 15 was unaffected (P greater than .05) in Group I; delayed (P less than 0.05) in Groups II, IV and V; and occurred early (P less than 0.05) in Group III. Mean E2-17 beta remained high (31.2 +/- 4.9 to 49.3 +/- 3.1 pg/ml) in Groups III and IV, while the mean concentrations in Groups III and V varied considerably (17.0 +/- 2.0 to 52.2 +/- 3.5 pg/ml). The results of this study have shown that PGE2 will counteract the effects of PGF2 alpha in INDO treated cycling gilts. The inclusion of PGF2 alpha appeared to either stimulate E2-17 beta secretion or maintain it at a higher level than other treatments.

The action of the prostaglandins on isolated human ureteric smooth muscle.

A study has been carried out on the actions of the prostaglandins E2 and F2 alpha and their synthesis inhibitors, indomethacin and diclofenac sodium, upon isolated human ureteric smooth muscle, using the technique of microsuperfusion designed to ensure good tissue viability. Indomethacin and diclofenac sodium were shown to abolish almost completely the contractile response of ureteric muscle to electrical field stimulation. Contractile activity, in the presence of the inhibitors, could be restored by prostaglandin E2 or F2 alpha or by increasing the external potassium concentration, [K+]O, of the superfusate. Prostaglandin E2 or F2 alpha alone were shown to increase dramatically both the phasic and tonic component of the electrically stimulated contractions, on occasions inducing spontaneous activity. A possible mechanism of action was elucidated with an electrophysiological technique using intracellular microelectrodes. The mean membrane potential recorded was 54.7 mV (SD +/- 10 mV, n = 15). The depolarising action of raising [K+]O was demonstrated and prostaglandin F2 alpha (3 x 10(-6) M) was shown to produce a small depolarisation of the ureteric muscle cell membrane.

Effects of TMB-8, a calcium antagonist, on transport properties of the isolated canine tracheal epithelium.

The effects of the putative intracellular Ca2+ antagonist, TMB-8 (8-(N,N-diethylamino)octyl-3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoate), on the canine tracheal epithelium were examined. Luminal addition reduced rapidly, but reversibly, the transmucosal potential difference and increased the resistance across the open-circuited epithelium. Under short-circuit conditions, the drug reduced stimulation by prostaglandin E2, forskolin, 8-bromo cyclic AMP, prostaglandin F2 alpha and A23187. Inhibition of prostaglandin E2 responses were accompanied by reversal of net Cl- fluxes produced by the agonist. The effects of TMB-8 were unaffected by increasing Ca2+ in the bathing solutions, and were not mimicked by procaine, nitrendipine, calmidazolium, compound 48/80 or trifluoperazine. W7 did, to a limited extent, produce similar responses, though the drug was more toxic, and the effects were irreversible.

Tolbutamide in vitro diminishes spontaneous and oxytocin-induced contractions of uterine smooth muscle from diestrous rats.

The in vitro spontaneous isometric-developed tension (IDT) of uterine horns obtained from diestrous rats exhibited, after 60 min of post-isolation activity, a clear decrease in magnitude, averaging 18.2 +/- 5.2%. In presence of tolbutamide, a concentration-dependent decrease of IDT, significantly greater than the spontaneous reduction (75.1 +/- 5.4%, with tolbutamide at 10(-4) M), was observed. Incubation with propranolol (10(-6) M) or with sotalol (10(-4) M) failed to alter the negative inotropism evoked by tolbutamide. On the other hand, the sulfonylurea (10(-4) M) shifted most points of the dose-response curve to the right for the contractile stimulation elicited by oxytocin, an influence not altered by the simultaneous presence of propranolol or sotalol. Tolbutamide failed to influence the negative inotropic dose-response curve for isoproterenol and did not modify the decrease in contractions evoked by theophylline (10(-4) M). It was also found that tolbutamide was devoid of action on the basal release of prostaglandin E2 from uterine strips and on the positive inotropic dose-response curve for added PGE2 or PGF2 alpha, constructed in presence of indomethacin (5 X 10(-6) M). The present findings do not permit a simple explanation regarding possible factors underlying the negative uterine inotropic influence of tolbutamide in the rat uterus. However, it appears that alterations in the integrity of tissue excitability and contractile apparatus, adrenergic implications, changes in uterine cAMP levels, inhibition of cyclo-oxygenase or low PEG2 synthesis and release, are not plausible mechanisms to explain the negative inotropism of tolbutamide. Therefore, it is suggested that the contractile depression evoked by tolbutamide and its action on the contractile effect of oxytocin might be linked to the impaired synthesis of other prostanoids, namely PGF2 alpha, PGI2 or PGD2, although the participation of not yet determined factor(s), namely changes in Ca2+ ion movements, cannot be discarded.

Ability of human plasma to inhibit prostaglandin F2 alpha in asthma.

Human plasma has been reported to inhibit the conversion of arachidonic acid into prostaglandin (PG) E2 and PGF2 alpha. In the present study the plasma inhibitory activity was determined in three groups (16 each) of plasma obtained from normal healthy volunteers, treated asthmatics and untreated asthmatic patients. The result showed that plasma from all three groups were equally effective in inhibiting the biosynthesis of PGE2. Plasma of normal volunteers and treated asthmatics also inhibited PGF2 alpha biosynthesis. In contrast the plasma obtained from untreated asthmatics was considerably less active in inhibiting the biosynthesis of PGF2 alpha than plasma from the other two groups.

[Effect of activating adrenoreactive structures with noradrenaline on the hemodynamic effects of prostaglandin F2alpha]. / Vliianie aktivatsii adrenoreaktivnykh struktur noradrenalinom na gemodinamicheskie éffekty prostaglandina F2al'fa.

Cardiovascular effects of prostaglandin F2 alpha were studied upon noradrenaline (NA) injection. The injection of PGF2 alpha alone to control dogs reduced systolic volume and cardiac output, increased total peripheral resistance, and elevated the arterial and venous pressures. When NA was pre-injected, the effect of PGF2 alpha on hemodynamic values was reversed.

Pilocarpine antagonizes prostaglandin F2 alpha-induced ocular hypotension in monkeys. Evidence for enhancement of Uveoscleral outflow by prostaglandin F2 alpha.

Twice daily topical application of 50 micrograms of prostaglandin F2 alpha tromethamine to cynomolgus monkey eyes produced significant ocular hypotension lasting at least six hours, with the intraocular pressure (IOP) falling between 35% and 50%, ie, to about 8 to 10 mm Hg, following the seventh dose. A single topical application of 1 mg of pilocarpine hydrochloride produced a much smaller IOP reduction and strong, probably maximal accommodation, both of which lasted at least eight hours. When prostaglandin F2 alpha-treated eyes were given pilocarpine before the seventh dose of prostaglandin F2 alpha, accommodation and IOP responded as in eyes receiving pilocarpine only. Atropine sulfate pretreatment of eyes receiving pilocarpine and prostaglandin F2 alpha completely prevented pilocarpine-induced accommodation and inhibition of ocular hypotension induced by prostaglandin F2 alpha. We hypothesize that (1) prostaglandin F2 alpha reduces IOP by increasing uveoscleral drainage of aqueous humor, and (2) pilocarpine pretreatment contracts the ciliary muscle, obliterating the intramuscular spaces and closing off the uveoscleral drainage pathway and thus physiologically blocking the effect.

Inhibition of constriction of cerebral arterioles in vivo by naftidrofuryl. Action against serotonin and dinoprost.

The effect of 2-(diethylamino) ethyl-tetrahydro-alpha-(1-naphthyl-methyl)-2-furanpropionate (naftidrofuryl, Praxilene) on an in vivo preparation of mouse cerebral blood vessels was investigated. Naftidrofuryl significantly reduced the arteriolar constriction produced by topical application of serotonin or dinoprost (prostaglandin F2 alpha). Local application of 10(-5) mol/l naftidrofuryl reduced both the constrictions to serotonin or dinoprost, when applied simultaneously with either constrictor. However, 10(-7) mol/l naftidrofuryl only inhibited serotonin. Moreover, 30 min after intraperitoneal injection, 160 mg/kg naftidrofuryl inhibited constrictions by either serotonin or dinoprost but 40 mg/kg only inhibited serotonin. 10 mg/kg also inhibited serotonin. The results are compatible with reports of a relatively selective action of naftidrofuryl on the serotonin S2 receptor. Moreover, while naftidrofuryl has long been suggested as a drug which could enhance cerebral blood flow or improve cerebral ischemia, the present observations suggest an antispasmodic effect on cerebral vessels in vivo.

Spasmolytic action of the cerebral circulation improver 6,7-dimethoxy-1- (3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4-[( 4-(2-methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]methyl) isoquinoline in isolated canine vessels.

Vasodilating action of a new calmodulin antagonist, 6,7-dimethoxy-1-(3,4-dimethoxybenzyl)-4-[( 4-(2- methoxyphenyl)-1-piperazinyl] methyl) isoquinoline (Ro 22-4849) was examined in various isolated canine vessels. Ro 22-4839 was found to dilate basilar and middle cerebral arteries and to non-selectively antagonize submaximal contraction of these arteries under the treatment of various constrictors (K+, Ca2+, PGF2 alpha (dinoprost), serotonin and incubated blood) with IC50 values ranging from 0.043 to 1.69 mumol/l. Vasospasmolytic action of the compound in these cerebral arteries was 9 and 20 times greater than those in coronary and femoral arteries, respectively. The arterial relaxation by Ro 22-4839 was hardly overcome by addition of extra calcium and Ro 22-4839 did not alter calcium channels in the guinea-pig papillary muscle, although the compound inhibited the tension development, confirming its calmodulin antagonistic properties. Ro 22-4839 inhibited norepinephrine (NE)-induced contraction of femoral arterial strips concentration-dependently, and prevented NE-induced lethal extravasation in mice with an ED50 value of 1.96 mg/kg p.o. In in vitro [3H]-dihydroergocryptine binding assay and ex vivo [3H]-WB-4101 (2-[(2',6'-dimethoxy)phenoxyethylamino] methylbenzodioxan) binding assay, the compound showed a potent inhibitory action on alpha 1-adrenoceptor. These findings indicate that Ro 22-4839 exerts the spasmolytic effects on cerebral vessels through calmodulin antagonistic properties combined with alpha 1-adrenoceptor blocking action.

Effect of baclofen on different models of bronchial hyperreactivity in the guinea-pig.

In this paper we report an inhibitory effect of (-)-baclofen on many models of bronchial hyperreactivity both in vivo and in vitro. (-)-Baclofen protects guinea-pigs from the anaphylactic bronchospasm induced in sensitized animals by an ovalbumin aerosol and from that induced by aerosols of histamine and PGF2 alpha. Moreover (-)-baclofen reduces the TXA2 and TXB2 output induced by ovalbumin from isolated sensitized guinea-pig lungs. On the other hand (-)-baclofen does not show antihistaminic, anticholinergic or antiprostaglandinic action on isolated tracheal preparations. It is concluded that baclofen can provide protection from bronchial hyperreactivity possibly through a modulation of autonomic nervous system activity.

Leukotriene antagonist FPL 57231 prevents the acute pulmonary effects of Escherichia coli endotoxin in cats.

We studied the effects of a selective leukotriene (LT) antagonist (FPL 57231, 2 mg kg-1 min-1) on the acute cardiopulmonary changes observed in feline endotoxin shock. LTC4 and LTD4 (0.1-3.0 micrograms kg-1) given intravenously had little or no activity on pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP), dynamic lung compliance (Cdyn), and airways resistance (Raw). They did, however, produce a systemic hypertension, which was significantly attenuated during the FPL 57231 infusion. E. coli endotoxin (2 mg kg-1) administration resulted in decreases in systemic arterial blood pressure and Cdyn, together with increases in both PAP and Raw. During infusion of FPL 57231, all these endotoxin-induced cardiopulmonary changes were attenuated. Radioimmunoassay of blood samples taken from cats given FPL 57231 showed that levels of 6-keto prosta-glandin F1 alpha and thromboxane B2 were not significantly increased by endotoxin, as would normally be expected in cats administered endotoxin. FPL 57231 was also found to antagonise the pulmonary effects of the thromboxanemimetic U46619 and of prostaglandin F2 alpha. These results indicate that it is unlikely that the leukotrienes are involved as important mediators of the acute phase of endotoxin shock in cats.

Renal prostaglandin E2 and F2 alpha synthesis during exercise: effects of indomethacin and sulindac.

To assess the effects of acute exercise on renal prostaglandins E2 (PGE2) and F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha) synthesis, urine collections were obtained from six women before and after 30 min of treadmill exercise at approximately 80% of their maximal oxygen consumption. After receiving a placebo for 3 days, with acute exercise, there was a significant increase only in recovery urine PGE2 concentration. Due to a decline in urine volume, PGF2 excretion was unchanged and PGF2 alpha excretion was significantly decreased by exercise. Subjects repeated the tests after 3 d of indomethacin treatment (150 mg X d-1), a known renal prostaglandin (PG) inhibitor, and 3 d of sulindac (300 mg X d-1), a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug which may not inhibit renal PG synthesis. Pre-exercise urine PGE2 concentrations were decreased by indomethacin but not by sulindac, whereas, PGF2 alpha concentrations were decreased by both drugs. When compared to the control test, indomethacin and sulindac had different effects on pre-exercise urine/plasma osmolality ratios and free water clearances. Neither indomethacin nor sulindac influenced the decreases in free water clearances, which were observed during the placebo tests. Exercise proteinuria was significantly increased by indomethacin but not by sulindac. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that acute exercise may stimulate renal PGE2 synthesis. During exercise, renal PG synthesis attenuates protein excretion. There also appear to be differences between indomethacin and sulindac with regard to the effects on renal PG synthesis and kidney function.