Search

Intraperitoneal administration of urate crystals to mice reduced subsequent macrophage conversion of arachidonic acid (AA) to prostaglandins (PGs) and 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid for up to 6 h. In contrast, levels of 12-hydroxyheptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHT) were markedly elevated. This metabolic profile was previously observed in vitro when recombinant cyclooxygenase (COX) enzymes were incubated with reduced glutathione (GSH). Analysis of peritoneal GSH levels revealed a fivefold elevation after urate crystal administration. The GSH synthesis inhibitor L-buthionine-[S,R]-sulfoximine partially reversed the urate crystal effect on both GSH elevation and PG synthesis. Moreover, addition of exogenous GSH to isolated peritoneal macrophages shifted AA metabolism from PGs to 12-HHT. Urate crystal administration reduced COX-1, but induced COX-2 expression in peritoneal cells. The reduction of COX-1 may contribute to the attenuation of PG synthesis after 1 and 2 h, but PG synthesis remained inhibited up to 6 h, when COX-2 levels were high. Overall, our results indicate that elevated GSH levels inhibit PG production in this model and provide in vivo evidence for the role of GSH in the regulation of PG biosynthesis.

Prostaglandins (PGs) were first described in the brain by Samuelsson over 30 years ago (Samuelsson, 1964). Since then a large number of studies have shown that PGs are formed in regions of the brain and spinal cord in response to a variety of stimuli. The recent identification of two forms of cyclooxygenase (COX; Kujubu et al., 1991; Xie et al., 1991; Smith and DeWitt, 1996), both of which are expressed in the brain, along with superior tools for mapping COX distribution, has spurred a resurgence of interest in the role of PGs in the central nervous system (CNS). In this review we will describe new data in this area, focusing on the distribution and potential role of the COX isoforms in brain function and disease.

The prostaglandins (PGs) released from the heart have generally been characterized as resembling PGE by bioassay techniques. The major PG formed from [14C]arachidonate (C20:4) by the isolated perfused rabbit heart has chromatographic mobility similar to that of PGE2 in most solvent systems. However, additional analysis of this radioactive "PGE" peak suggests that two substances are formed by the heart and migrate like PGE2: one has chemical properties similar to those of authentic PGE2 and the other is a novel PG. The unknown compound is the major PG formed by the heart from either exogenous arachidonate or hormonal stimulation of PG biosynthesis. The novel PG produced by the heart may be identical with either 6(9)-oxy-PGF or 6-keto-PGF1 alpha.

A method is described for the efficient incorporation of radioactive arachidonic acid into the lipids of rabbit hearts and kidneys. Infusion of 14C-arachidonate through perfused tissues resulted in the quantitative removel of label from the media. Analysis of the lipids from tissues labeled by this procedure revealed that the majority of the 14C-arachidonate was incorporated into phospholipids. Essentially all of the radioactivity in phosphatidylcholine was found in the 2-position. Subsequent to the 14C-arachidonate infusion, stimulation of prostaglandin biosynthesis (e.g. by bradykinin) resulted in the release of radioactive prostaglandins. This suggests that the 14C-arachidonate is incorporated in a manner such that it is available for hormone-stimulated prostaglandin biosynthesis. The method described allows both qualitative and quantitative analysis of arachidonate metabolism in intact tissues and offers significant advantages over other presently used methods.

The lipids of isolated Krebs perfused rabbit kidneys and hearts were labelled with [14C]arachidonic acid. Subsequent hormonal stimulation (e.g. bradykinin, ATP) of the pre-labelled tissue resulted in dose-dependent release of [14C]prostaglandins; little or no release of the precursor [14C]arachidonic acid was observed. When fatty acid-free bovine serum albumin was added to the perfusion medium as a trap for fatty acids substantial release of [14C]arachidonic acid was detected following hormonal stimulation. The release of [14C]arachidonic acid was dose-dependent and greater than 3 fold that of [14C]prostaglandin release. Indomethacin by inhibiting the cyclo-oxygenase, completely inhibited release of [14C]prostaglandins and only slightly inhibited release of [14C]arachidonic acid. These results demonstrate that in both rabbit kidney and heart much more substrate is released by hormonal stimulation than is converted to prostaglandins. This suggests that either the deacylation reaction is not tightly coupled to the prostaglandin synthetase system or that there are two deacylation mechanisms, one which is coupled to prostaglandin synthesis while the other is non-specific. It has previously been shown that prostaglandin release due to hormones such as bradykinin is transient despite continued presence of the hormone (tachyphylaxis). By utilizing albumin to trap released fatty acid, it was found that hormone-stimulated release of arachidonic acid is also transient. This directly demonstrates that tachyphylaxis occurs at a step prior to the cyclo-oxygenase.

In isolated perfused rabbit hearts, bradykinin produced a concentration-dependent decrease in coronary resistance directly associated with biosynthesis and release of prostaglandin-E-like substance. An inhibitor of bradykinin destruction (the nonapeptide SQ-20881) markedly enhanced both the coronary vasodilation and release of prostaglandin-E-like substance produced by cardiac injection of bradykinin. Indomethacin inhibited both the myocardial prostaglandin biosynthesis and the decrease in coronary resistance induced by bradykinin. The demonstration that bradykinin is a potent stimulator of prostaglandin biosynthesis in the heart has implications as to the cause of the afferent cardiovascular reflexes and pain in myocardial infarction and angina pectoris.

Bovine coronary artery strips were incubated with [1-14C]arachidonic acid and the chemical properties of the various prostaglandins (PG) formed were studied. Arachidonate was converted to two major prostaglandin products, PGE2 and a novel prostaglandin having chemical (i.e. base hydrolysis and borohydride reduction) and chromatographic properties identical with 6-keto-PGF1alpha. This final compound was inactive on coronary artery strips. The endoperoxide intermediates, PGG2 or PGH2, previously shown to induce coronary relaxation, were not released into the medium from isolated bovine coronaries. The arachidonic acid-induced dilation may have been due to an intracellular action of PGH2 (or PGG2) or to the action of another, yet unidentified, labile intermediate formed in the enzymatic conversion of endoperoxides to 6-keto PGF1alpha. When PGH2 was incubated with bovine coronary microsomes, the PGH2 was completely metabolized (i.e. loss of rabbit aorta contraction) but a compound was generated which was a much more potent coronary relaxant. We suggest that this major novel metabolic pathway of arachidonate generates a substance, intermediate between PGH2 and the final 6-keto PGF1alpha-like product, which is a potent coronary vasodilator.

Adminstration of endotoxin to dogs caused a rapid initial decline in blood pressure followed by a transient recovery preceding death. Plasma renin activity was elevated 5 minutes after endotoxin administration and continued to rise throughout the course of shock. Indomethacin given 60 minutes after endotoxin caused an elevation of blood pressure and a 50% decrease in plasma renin activity. Pretreatment with indomethacin markedly attenuated both the hemodynamic changes and the rise in plasma renin activity caused by endotoxin administration. Prostaglandin (PG) E-like material was observed in renal venous blood 30 minutes after endotoxin administration and was abolished by indomethacin. In addtion, a non-PG substance was found in dialysate from both arterial and renal venous blood within 5 minutes of endotoxin administration, Renal and mesenteric angiograms were taken at various stages of shock. Endotoxin administration caused a substantial increase in the diameter of intrarenal arterial branches which was temporally associated with the appearance of PGE-like material in the renal venous effluent. The mesenteric arteries were initially and transiently constricted by endotoxin and then were markedly and chronically dilated. Indomethacin simultaneously abolished renal PG and decreased renal and mesenteric arterial diameter.

In isolated perfused rabbit hearts, coronary vasodilation, produced by reduced oxygen tension seems to be independent of myocardial prostaglandin biosynthesis. a) Anoxia (N2: CO2 95: 5 %) produced coronary vasodilation without causing prostaglandin-like substance (PLS) biosynthesis and release; b) the decrease in coronary resistance during hypoxia (N2:02:CO2 - 80:15:5 %) was sustained during myocardial perfusion with the low oxygen media despite the transitory nature of its PLS release; and c) indomathacin, which abolished basal or ADP stimulated myocardial PLS release, did not abolish the coronary vasodilation produced by ischemia, hypoxia, or anoxia.