Hydrocortisone and the release of prostaglandins from spleen

Isolation of prostaglandin E2-like material from osteonecrosis induced by steroids and its prevention by kallikrein-inhibitor, aprotinin. An experimental study in rabbits

Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)-like activity was measured in osteonecrotic femoral heads caused by high doses of methyl prednisolone acetate in rabbits. Serum levels of cholesterol, total lipids, free fatty acids, alkaline phosphatase, SGOT and lipase were also determined. There were increases in local tissue PGE2-like activity, serum cholesterol, total lipid and free fatty acid levels in rabbits with steroid-induced osteonecrosis as compared to the controls. The rabbits given aprotinin together with the steroid showed significant decreases in serum cholesterol and lipid levels coupled with a marked increase in the local PGE2-like activity. Aprotinin prevented osteonecrosis induced by steroids. The results are discussed in the light of the relevant literature.

Stimulation of prostaglandin E2-synthesis by noradrenaline in primary cell cultures from rabbit splenic pulpa is mediated by atypical alpha-adrenoceptors

In primary cell cultures originating from rabbit splenic pulpa the effects of various adrenoceptor agonists on prostaglandin (PG)-synthesis were studied. The cells - microscopically identified as fibroblasts - released PGs into the medium: especially PGE2 besides small amounts of PGF2alpha and PGD2. Noradrenaline increased dose-dependently the amount of PGs released into the medium. Besides noradrenaline, only the catecholamines adrenaline and alpha-methylnoradrenaline strongly activated PG-synthesis. Other alpha-adrenoceptor agonists like the phenylethylamine and imidazoline derivatives were only weak agonists or completely ineffective. All adrenoceptor agonists without intrinsic activity in these cells antagonized the noradrenaline effect on PG-synthesis, the imidazolines being more potent antagonists than the phenylethylamines. The beta-adrenoceptor agonist isoprenaline stimulated PG-synthesis at high concentration only. The effects of both noradrenaline and isoprenaline were inhibited by low concentrations of phentolamine phenoxybenzamine, but not by propranolol. The preferential alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonists yohimbine and rauwolscine were about 50 times more potent in blocking the noradrenaline effect on PG-synthesis than the more alpha1-specific antagonist corynanthine. However, prazosin, another alpha1-adrenoceptor antagonist, was about equipotent with yohimbine. It is concluded that noradrenaline elicits PG-synthesis in rabbit splenic fibroblasts via alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation. The alpha-adrenoceptor involved has properties which are different from those reported so far for alpha1- or alpha2-adrenoceptors.

Characterization of the stimulatory effects of PGF2alpha on the release of arachidonic acid

Fibroblasts derived from a rat carrageenin granuloma were cultured in the presence of radioactive arachidonic acid, palmitic acid and linoleic acid. More than 90% of each labeled fatty acid was incorporated into a phospholipid fraction by the cells in 18 hrs. Arachidonic acid was evenly incorporated into phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine, while both palmitic acid and linoleic acid were almost entirely incorporated into phosphatidylcholine. The position of phosphatidylcholine where the fatty acids were incorporated was different for each fatty acid. The ratio of the amount of fatty acid incorporated into the 2-position to the amount incorporated into the 1-position of phosphatidylcholine for each fatty acid was greater than 90% for arachidonic acid, 2:1 for palmitic acid and 5:1 for linoleic acid. In the case of phosphatidylethanolamine, most arachidonic acid (greater than 90%) was incorporated into the 2-position. PGF2alpha caused the stimulation of arachidonic acid release but not of palmitic acid and linoleic acid from pre-labeled fibroblasts. The serum in the medium was completely replaceable by bovine serum albumin. The effect of PGF2Alpha increased with an increasing concentration of bovine serum albumin, suggesting that serum only acts as a "trap" for released arachidonic acid. The effect of PGF2Alpha was greater than bradykinin, and no synergistic effect was seen, although an additive effect was observed. The effect of PGF2Alpha depended on the concentration of calcium ions under magnesium-supplemented conditions.