Metabolism of leukotriene C4 in the anesthetized guinea pig

Tissue distribution, elimination and metabolism of [3H]-leukotriene C4 in the American bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana

Tissue distribution, elimination, and metabolism of [3H]-leukotriene C4 were studied at 2.5 hours after injection in the conscious and anesthetized American bullfrog, Rana catesbeiana. Conscious frogs were injected via the dorsal lymph sac or the sciatic vein. Anesthetized frogs were injected via the abdominal vein. The organs containing the greatest percent of injected radioactivity at 2.5 hours after injection were liver, small intestine and kidney. Route of injection and anesthesia appears to alter distribution and elimination of leukotrienes. [3H]-leukotrienes were eliminated into bladder water and bile. In addition, 7.8 +/- 2.2 and 5.2 +/- 2.5 percent of the injected radioactivity was found in the pan water bathing the ventral surface of the venously and dorsally injected conscious frogs, respectively, suggesting transfer of radioactivity across the skin. At 2.5 hours, polar metabolites represented 50% of the radioactivity found in liver, bile, and bladder water. These polar metabolites were determined to be 18-carboxy-19,20-dinor-leukotriene E4, 20-carboxy-leukotriene E4, and 20-hydroxy-leukotriene E4. Of the non-oxidized leukotrienes, bile contained mainly LTD4 while bladder water contained primarily LTE4. N-acetyl LTE4 was not detected in any samples. The tissue distribution, elimination and metabolism of leukotrienes in the bullfrog was similar to mammalian studies and suggests evolutionary conservation of leukotriene processing.

Determination of plasma leukotrienes in antigen-induced bronchoconstrictive guinea pigs

Convenient extraction and radioimmunoassay methods for measurement of leukotrienes C4 and D4 (LTC4 and LTD4) in biological fluids are described. LTC4 or LTD4 in plasma was extracted with acetonitrile, and the extract was washed with dichloromethane then adjusted to pH 3.5 or 6.0, respectively. Each leukotriene was partially purified by using a C18-bonded silica cartridge and quantitated by radioimmunoassay. Amounts of LTC4 and LTD4 in the range of 0.025-1.6 ng could be assayed in plasma. This procedure was employed to examine the increase in plasma LTC4 (0.249 +/- 0.036 ng/ml) and LTD4 (1.399 +/- 0.235 ng/ml) of guinea pigs during intravenous challenge-induced anaphylactic bronchoconstriction, and the suppression of the increase of bronchoconstriction and leukotrienes by the administration of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors such as E6080 (6-hydroxy-2-(4-sulfamoylbenzyl-amino)- 4,5,7-trimethylbenzothiazole hydrochloride), AA861 (2,3,5-trimethyl-6-(12-hydroxy-5,10-dodecadiynyl)-1,4-benzoquinone ) and phenidone. On the other hand, LTC4 and LTD4 were not detected in plasma after an inhaled challenge, though significant bronchoconstriction was provoked. It was concluded that the present study validates a new technique for quantitating plasma leukotrienes on the basis of pH and a suitable method for evaluating the pharmacological efficacy of 5-lipoxygenase inhibitors.

Application of reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography to the analysis of sulphidopeptide leukotrienes in pig bile

Reversed phase HPLC methodology has been developed for separation of peptide leukotrienes and indomethacin in porcine bile. Reproducible recoveries were obtained using radioactive leukotrienes ([3H]LTC4, 57.1 +/- 2.5%; [3H]LTE4, 62.7 +/- 1.9%; [3H]LTD4, 54.3 +/- 2.7%). Radioimmunoassay of column eluant demonstrated that as little as 300 pg of exogenous leukotrienes could be measured in bile fluids, with similar recoveries. Analysis of bile sampled 60-90 min after initiation of experimental endotoxic shock in indomethacin treated pigs revealed a leukotriene concentration of 5.24 +/- 1.16 ng/mL(LTD4). This was significantly greater (p less than 0.05, n = 3) than that observed in samples collected prior to endotoxin (0.42 +/- 0.23 ng/mL), or from untreated animals (0.85 +/- 0.51 ng/mL). This method is thus applicable to investigation of the role of 5-lipoxygenase products in porcine models of human disease, including shock conditions such as endotoxaemia, during cyclooxygenase inhibition by indomethacin.