Acyl type platelet-activating factor in normal rat uterus determined by gas chromatography mass spectrometry

1 Acyl-2 acetyl-sn-glycero-3 phosphocholine decreases the susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein to oxidative modification by copper ions, monocytes or endothelial cells

The effects of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and its analogue, 1 acyl-2 acetyl-sn-glycero-3 phosphocholine (1 acyl-2 acetyl-GPC), were investigated on the oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) by copper ions, U937 monocyte-like cells or endothelial cells, by determination of the lipid peroxidation end products (TBARS) content and measurement of the electrophoretic mobility of the particle. 1 Acyl-2 acetyl-GPC, in the concentration range 1-5 micrograms/ml, inhibited LDL oxidation in a dose-dependent manner in the three systems, whereas PAF had no effect. The protective effect of 1 acyl-2 acetyl-GPC was markedly more important when oxidative modification was performed with endothelial cells, leading to total inhibition at 5 micrograms/ml. At the same concentration, the TBARS production was inhibited by 60% and 20% with monocytes and copper ions, respectively. The degradation by J774 macrophage-like cells of LDL modified by copper ions, U937 monocyte-like cells or endothelial cells was also inhibited when modification was performed in the presence of 1 acyl-2 acetyl-GPC. Furthermore, preincubation of the LDL particle with 1 acyl-2 acetyl-GPC before modification protected the lipoprotein against oxidation, whereas preincubation of the cultured cells with the phospholipid had no effect. Thus 1 acyl-2 acetyl-GPC decreases the susceptibility of the LDL particle to oxidative modification, possibly by intercalation within the lipid phase of the particle. Since LDL oxidation is believed to play an important role in the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis, this inhibitory effect of 1 acyl-2 acetyl-GPC might be of importance in view of the fact that this phospholipid is produced concomitantly with PAF in some inflammatory cells.

Rabbit blastocysts accumulate platelet-activating factor (PAF) and lyso-PAF in vitro

Platelet-activating factor (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphorylcholine; PAF) is a very potent phospholipid, which has been demonstrated to stimulate smooth muscle and change vascular permeability. PAF has been detected in the rabbit preimplantation uterine endometrium and has been demonstrated to bind specifically to rabbit uterine membranes. To evaluate the possible role of PAF in maternal-embryonic chemical communication, we report here that rabbit blastocysts can accumulate [3H]PAF from their environment. Blastocysts were able to accumulate [3H]PAF as time-, buffer-, age-, and concentration-dependent functions. The accumulation was inhibited by some PAF receptor antagonists, such as U66985, as well as by unlabeled PAF and lyso-PAF, indicating that the accumulation process may be receptor mediated. The data support the current model of PAF as a paracrine factor in preimplantation stages of reproduction.

Molecular heterogeneity of platelet-activating factor (PAF) in rat glandular stomach determined by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. PAF molecular species changes upon water-immersion stress

The molecular heterogeneity of 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (alkylacetyl-GPC) and 1-acyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (acylacetyl-GPC) in normal rat glandular stomach was studied by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and tandem mass spectrometry. The percentage compositions of the molecular species of 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-GPC and 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC in the antrum were, respectively, 1-alkyl [16:0 (34%) and 18:0 (66%)]-2-acetyl-GPC and 1-acyl [16:0 (60%), 18:0 (14%) and 18:1 (26%)]-2-acetyl-GPC. The alkyl chain composition of 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-GPC was quite different from that of 1-alkyl-2-acyl-GPC in both the antrum and corpus, demonstrating a high degree of selectivity of alkyl chain utilization in PAF biosynthesis. The amount of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC was much greater than that of 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-GPC. The molecular heterogeneity of 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-GPC and 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC in the corpus was similar to that in the antrum. Water-immersion stress affected not only the amount of 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-GPC and 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC, but also their molecular heterogeneity in the antrum and corpus. Whereas the amounts of 1-hexadecyl-2-acetyl-GPC and 1-acyl [16:0, 18:0 and 18:1]-2-acetyl-GPC decreased markedly (to less than one-fifth) in the antrum after such stress for 1 hr, the amount of 1-octadecyl-2-acetyl-GPC increased markedly (up to 4-fold) in the corpus and severe lesions were observed after stress for 7 hr.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Effect of 17 beta-estradiol on PAF and prostaglandin levels in oophorectomized rat uterus

The effects of 17 beta-estradiol on the levels of platelet-activating factor (PAF) and prostaglandins and their precursor phospholipid in the uterus of oophorectomized rats were studied. Oophorectomy results in the decrease in the uterine PAF level to one-third of that in natural estrus. This level was recovered by subcutaneous administration of 17 beta-estradiol. The level of uterine phospholipids, which are rich in arachidonic acid, was significantly decreased by estradiol treatment. More arachidonate-PC was depleted than arachidonate-PE. The molecular structure was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The amount of PGF2 alpha in the oophorectomized uterine tissue was 10-times that of PAF, but like the latter, increased 3-4 times on estradiol treatment. The chemical structures of PAF and PGF2 alpha formed on estradiol treatment were confirmed by mass spectrometry. The present data strongly suggest a correlation between the formations of PAF and PGF2 alpha, and indicate that estradiol may regulate the physiological formations of PAF and PGs in non-pregnant rat uterus.

Analysis of platelet-activating factor by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: low-energy electron impact of the corresponding 3-acetyl-2-tert.-butyldimethylsilyl derivative

A method for the analysis of platelet-activating factor in platelets employing gas chromatography and selected-ion monitoring mass spectrometry with low-energy electron impact and stable isotope dilution was developed. The procedure involved Bligh and Dyer extraction of the sample followed by thin-layer chromatographic purification. Platelet-activating factor is successively hydrolysed to the corresponding 2-acetyl-1-O-alkylglycerol by digestion with phospholipase C, and the product is allowed to isomerize to the more thermodynamically stable 3-acetyl-1-O-alkylglycerol before column purification and derivatization of the free OH with tert.-butyldimethylchlorosaline-imidazole. This reagent is of common use in platelet-activating factor derivatization, but is made to react with 2-acetyl instead of 3-acetyl isomer. The advantages of using the latter for the final derivatization are discussed and this method is compared with others currently available for gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric analysis of platelet-activating factor.

Autoradiographic localization of platelet-activating factor (PAF) binding sites in the rabbit endometrium during the peri-implantation period

This communication describes the use of in-vivo and in-vitro autoradiography to map specific platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptors in the rabbit uterus. Specific [3H]PAF uptake was predominantly localized on epithelial, but not on stromal or myometrial cells. Very few silver grains were associated with the luminal epithelial cells in the uterus of the estrous rabbit, primarily because of the non-differentiated state of the epithelium. In the differentiated pregnant uterus, significantly more [3H]PAF was bound to the glandular epithelial cells, with the stromal cells binding consistently significantly less. The highest density of silver grains was observed at the implantation sites on day 7 of pregnancy. There was no apparent difference in [3H]PAF C18:0 uptake between the epithelial cells at the inter-implantation zone on day 7 and on day 6. Bound [3H]PAF was displaceable by lyso-PAF, U66985, CV3988, but not U66982, L652,731, SRI 63,441 or the inactive PAF isomer, oleoyl PAF. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) significantly inhibited tissue uptake of [3H]PAF C18:0. Intraluminally administered [3H]PAF C18:0 and intravenously injected [3H]methylcarbamyl-PAF, a non-metabolizable PAF analog, penetrated the implanted blastocyst and bound to the embryoblast. This event was reproducible in vitro with pre-implantation blastocysts from day-6 pregnant rabbits, which suggests that uterine-derived PAF may translocate into the blastocyst after attachment.

Biological effects of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine in the human neutrophil

The synthesis of large quantities of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC) relative to 1-alkyl-2-acetyl-GPC (PAF; platelet-activating factor) has been demonstrated in several inflammatory cells. The present study has examined agonist and antagonist activities of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC in the human neutrophil. 1-Acyl-2-acetyl-GPC induced a rapid increase in cytosolic calcium in the neutrophil; this effect was detected at 2 x 10(-9) M and was maximal at 10(-6) M. The peak response induced by 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC was similar to that induced by PAF although the potency of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC was 300-fold lower than that of PAF. The dose response curves for both 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC and PAF were shifted in a parallel fashion by L-652,731 (10(-6) M), a PAF receptor antagonist, suggesting that both 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC and PAF act on the same receptor. High concentrations of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC (10(-5) M) induced the release of beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme from the human neutrophil. The percent release of lysozyme induced by 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC was consistently higher than that of beta-glucuronidase. Prior stimulation of neutrophils with 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC dose-dependently inhibited the increase in cytosolic calcium induced by a subsequent challenge with an optimal concentration of PAF. Similarly, preincubation of neutrophils with 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC dose-dependently inhibited beta-glucuronidase and lysozyme release induced by a subsequent stimulation with PAF. The inhibitory effect on degranulation could not be surmounted even by concentrations of PAF 10-fold higher than that of 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC. The inhibition appeared to be selective for PAF since 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC did not affect f-met peptide-induced degranulation. This study suggests that 1-acyl-2-acetyl-GPC may act as a naturally-occurring specific inhibitor of PAF-induced activation of the human neutrophil.