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Biomedical subjects

J Lefort

Publications and source records attributed to J Lefort.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Pulmonary anti-anaphylactic activity of clenbuterol tested on actively and passively sensitized guinea-pigs.

Clenbuterol, an adrenergic beta-mimetic agent free of cardiostimulant effects, prevents the release of histamine from isolated rat mast cells. We studied its anti-anaphylactic activity in guinea-pigs and compared it with that of isoprenaline. At doses inactive against the bronchoconstriction caused by 5HT, clenbuterol (3 micrograms/kg) and isoprenaline (0.1-0.3 micrograms/kg) prevented the bronchoconstriction due to 1 mg/kg ovalbumin infused into passively sensitized animals. Clenbuterol and isoprenaline (0.5-1 microM) inhibited by 40% the contractions of superfused parenchyma lung strips from actively sensitized animals, stimulated with 0.3, 1 and 10 micrograms of ovalbumin. When strips from passively sensitized animals were challenged in the organ bath, clenbuterol and isoprenaline (0.01 microM) reduced by 50% the contraction triggered by 10 micrograms/ml of ovalbumin. These concentrations of clenbuterol were ineffective against contractions caused by acetylcholine. Clenbuterol and isoprenaline (0.001-0.01 microM) inhibited the release of histamine and of thromboxane A2 triggered by ovalbumin (0.1, 1 and 10 micrograms) injected into isolated lungs from actively sensitized guinea-pigs indicating that the anti-anaphylactic properties of clenbuterol are independent from its smooth muscle relaxing activity.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1985

Desensitization to PAF-induced bronchoconstriction and to activation of alveolar macrophages by repeated inhalations of PAF in the guinea pig.

Guinea-pig alveolar macrophages are activated in the presence of PAF-acether (PAF), as shown by O2.- production, suggesting that these cells, abundant in the lungs, are involved in PAF-induced bronchoconstriction. Alveolar macrophages collected after in vivo desensitization to the bronchoconstrictor effect of PAF became refractory to it in vitro, whereas the O2.- production in response to f-met-leu-phe persisted, although it was diminished suggesting a partial cross-desensitization. A similar desensitization to PAF was also observed in alveolar macrophages in vitro, demonstrating a stimulus-specific process. This study suggests that alveolar macrophages may be involved in bronchoconstriction induced by aerosol of PAF.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1985

Histamine and leukotriene-independent guinea-pig anaphylactic shock unaccounted for by Paf-acether.

Ovalbumin induced dose-dependent contractions of lung parenchyma strips from sensitized guinea-pigs, whereas Paf-acether (1-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoryl choline), a potential mediator of immediate hypersensitivity, induced a single contraction, followed by specific desensitization to a second exposure. Lung strips desensitized to Paf-acether contracted to ovalbumin as did non-desensitized controls, even in the presence of inhibitors of other mediators of anaphylaxis. Contractions by Paf-acether and by ovalbumin were reduced by nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA) and by the phospholipase A2 inhibitor p-bromophenacyl bromide (0.1-0.3 mM). Three other anti-lipoxygenase agents (diethylcarbamazine, 5 mM; eicosatetraynoic acid and BW755c, 0.1 mM), reduced the contractions by ovalbumin but also those due to acetylcholine, indicating non-specific effects. Neither the anti-allergic compound sodium cromoglycate (3 mM) nor the anti-leukotriene agent, FPL 55712 (0.01 mM), inhibited the contractions by ovalbumin or by Paf-acether. A sensitized strip stimulated with ovalbumin released substances which contracted a non-sensitized strip mounted in the same organ bath. The contractions of the non-sensitized strip were abolished by FPL 55712 (0.01 mM), by NDGA and BW755c, (0.1 mM), whereas those of the sensitized one were unaffected. Leukotrienes are formed by the lung strips during shock but alone, they do not explain the contractile activity. The intravenous administration of ovalbumin (1 mg kg-1) led to bronchoconstriction and thrombocytopenia, which were not modified by the anti-leukotriene substance FPL 55712 nor by aspirin. Bronchoconstriction was suppressed if FPL 55712 was used in combination with aspirin (20 mg kg-1), mepyramine and methysergide (200 micrograms kg-1 of either). Pretreatment of the guinea-pigs with propranolol reduced this inhibition to approximately 60%. In no instance was thrombocytopenia prevented. In vitro contractions of the actively sensitized lung strip are not fully accounted for by histamine, FPL 55712-inhibitable leukotrienes or Paf-acether, whereas in systemic anaphylaxis histamine and leukotrienes (inhibited respectively by mepyramine and by FPL 55712) have a significant role.

Acetophenones↗
PubMed1985

Ultrastructural evidence for extravascular platelet recruitment in the lung upon intravenous injection of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) to guinea-pigs.

Bronchoconstriction and degenerative lesions of the bronchial epithelium were observed microscopically 1 min after the i.v. injection of 100 ng/kg of platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) to the anaesthesized guinea-pig. Constricted arterioles containing marginated polymorphonuclear neutrophils and platelet aggregates were seen, as well as alveolar capillaries obstructed by thrombi formed by partially or totally degranulated platelets. Three minutes after the injection of PAF-acether, platelet diapedesis to the alveolar septa and lumen was clearly observed. Bronchoconstriction was still present at 3 min, but subsided after 60 min, whereas oedema of the submucosa persisted accompanied by an infiltration of eosinophils and neutrophils. The infusion of prostacyclin prevented the formation of platelet aggregates and platelet diapedesis due to PAF-acether, but the morphological evidence of bronchial constriction was not modified. Aspirin failed completely to modify the effects of PAF-acether. Our results show that PAF-acether causes early formation and deposition of platelet aggregates, accompanied by the margination of polymorphonuclear neutrophil leucocytes in pulmonary vessels of the guinea-pig. Since bronchoconstriction persisted when platelet aggregation was inhibited with prostacyclin, aggregation by itself would not account for this effect. Early platelet diapedesis in the vicinity of bronchial smooth muscle corroborates previous evidence that platelets contain and release bronchoconstrictor substances, which operate by cyclo-oxygenase-independent mechanisms and are possibly involved with the physiopathology of lung inflammation during immediate hypersensitivity.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1984

The platelet-independent release of thromboxane A2 by Paf-acether from guinea-pig lungs involves mechanisms distinct from those for leukotriene.

Intra-arterial injections of platelet-activating factor (Paf-acether, 10-300 ng) to the perfused guinea-pig lung induced a dose-related bronchoconstriction, followed by contraction of the rat aorta superfused with the lung effluent, indicating the release of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) activity. These effects were matched with injections of bradykinin (Bk) at 100-1000 ng, leukotriene C4(LTC4) at 10-300 ng or arachidonic acid (AA) at 30-300 micrograms. Repeated doses of Paf-acether led to a specific desensitization of the release of TXA2, under conditions where Bk, LTC4 and arachidonic acid retained their ability to release TXA2. Bronchoconstriction and the release of TXA2 induced by Paf-acether were suppressed when the lungs were perfused with acetylsalicylic acid, but not with salicylic acid. The phospholipase A2 inhibitor, p-bromophenacyl bromide suppressed the release of TXA2 by Bk, but did not interfere with its formation from AA, nor with its release with Paf-acether and LTC4. The lipoxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, inhibited to a similar extent the release of TXA2 by Bk, LTC4 and Paf-acether but also reduced directly the formation of TXA2 from arachidonic acid, invalidating its use as a specific antilipoxygenase agent. The leukotriene C4/D4 antagonist, FPL 55712, suppressed the TXA2 releasing effects of LTC4, and was completely inactive against Paf-acether, Bk or arachidonic acid. The aerosol of Paf-acether was tested in the anaesthetized guinea-pig and resulted in bronchoconstriction, unaccompanied by thrombocytopenia. Unlike bronchoconstriction induced by intravenous Paf-acether, which is refractory to cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors, the effects of the aerosol were suppressed by aspirin. Platelet depletion, which blocks the intravenous effects of Paf-acether, failed to interfere with those of the aerosol. Paf-acether induced a marked contraction of the superfused guinea-pig isolated parenchyma lung strip, which was followed by total and irreversible desensitization to itself. The contractile effect was not inhibited by aspirin or indomethacin, atropine, mepyramine, methysergide, phenoxybenzamine or propranolol, indicating that cyclo-oxygenase products, cholinergic stimuli, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and catecholamine mechanisms are not involved. Our results indicate that Paf-acether interacts with pulmonary sites distinct from those for Bk, LTC4 or AA, since no cross-desensitization between Paf-acether and the other agonists was noted, p-bromophenacyl bromide inhibited Bk only and FPL 55712 inhibited only LTC4. The phospholipase A2 involved with the release of the arachidonate needed for the formation of TXA2 by Paf-acether or LTC4-stimulated lungs may differ from the enzyme accounting for its formation by Bk. The cellular sites with which Paf-acether interacts may also be distinct and less readily accessible to p-bromophenacyl bromide.

Aerosols↗
PubMed1984

[Platelet aggregation and PAF-acether. Pharmacologic interference].

Platelet activation is a model for cell activation in general. Platelets are involved in many diseases: arterial thrombosis, atherosclerosis, possibly metastatic dissemination. A better knowledge of the mode of action of its mediators is required to control platelet activation.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

[Arguments against routine surgery for acute intestinal intussusception. Apropos of 220 cases].

220 children with intussusception were treated at Rouen Children's Hospital between 1969 and 1981. The patients are separated in four groups according to the treatment: --primary operation without barium enema, --operation after failure of the barium enema, --surgical control after reduction by barium enema, --barium enema alone. This study shows that in the third group, the operation did not demonstrate neither any "lead-point", nor any intestinal damage requiring resection. A "lead-point" or an intestinal lesion have been found only in intussusceptions which had not been reduced by barium enema. Thus, one can conclude that a surgical control is useless when the barium enema is successful. The technique of the enema is described.

Barium Sulfate↗
PubMed1982

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs if combined with anti-histamine and anti-serotonin agents interfere with the bronchial and platelet effects of "platelet-activating factor" (PAF-acether).

The non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) indomethacin, aspirin and salicylic acid, as well as the anti-histamine, mepyramine, and the anti-serotonin, methysergide, fail to interfere with bronchoconstriction, thrombo-cytopenia and hypotension induced by platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether, 1-O-octadecyl-2-acetyl-sn-3-glycerylphosphorylcholine) in the guinea-pig. When one of the NSAID was given combined with mepyramine and with methysergide, bronchoconstriction was suppressed, but thrombocytopenia and hypotension persisted. Platelets prepared from blood collected from animals treated with the NSAID or with mepyramine and/or methysergide, aggregated to a similar extent to PAF-acether; however, the accompanying release of ATP was inhibited in those animals which had been treated with the drug combination effective in vivo against bronchoconstriction. In vitro application to platelets of the drugs effective in vivo and ex vivo was ineffective in blocking the platelet-release reaction. This suggests the existence of in vivo sites of action for the synergistic inhibitory activity of NSAID and anti-histamine/anti-serotonin drugs on bronchoconstriction and on platelet secretion. PAF-acether possible releases from the platelets a bronchoconstrictor component, distinguishable from thromboxane A2 and depleted by reserpine administration to the animals, which could account for the in vivo effects on the bronchopulmonary system.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1982

Relaxation of the guinea-pig trachea induced by platelet-activating factor and by serotonin.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether), a known platelet stimulant and bronchoconstrictor (in vivo), is a potential mediator of inflammation and thrombosis. However, all smooth muscle effects of PAF-acether described to date are indirect, relying upon intravascular platelet activation. Novel actions of PAF-acether and serotonin (5-HT) are presented here; these actions may lead to the development of a practical bioassay for PAF-acether and contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of action for both substances. PAF-acether, when added to a spiral cut guinea-pig trachea suspended in a tissue bath containing Krebs-Henseleit buffer, produced a dose-dependent loss of active tissue tension. The ED50 for this effect of PAF-acether was 75 ng/ml. PAF-acether produced a maximal relaxation which was 68% of that produced by PGE1 and the effect could not be modified by aspirin or propranolol pretreatment. 5-HT, alone, contracted the guinea-pig trachea strip in a dose-dependent manner, but caused relaxation instead when methysergide was present. Aspirin, phenoxybenzamine and propranolol did not alter this loss of active tissue tension. A similar observation was made in vivo using the guinea-pig bronchoconstriction model, in which PAF-acether as well as 5-HT given to methysergide-treated animals caused a decrease in intratracheal pressure. This action of PAF-acether may yield a suitable bioassay method which could facilitate routine measurements of the substance. Furthermore, the similarity in action of PAF-acether and of 5-HT on methysergide-treated animals leads one to speculate about the relationship between the two substances and their mechanism of action in smooth muscle.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1982

Comparison between the antiaggregating effect of ticlopidine in whole blood, platelet-rich plasma and washed platelets of the rat.

Ticlopidine, an inhibitor of platelet activation enhances the antiaggregating effect of prostaglandins (PG) E1 and I2 when applied to rat whole blood or platelet-rich plasma. Aggregation by ADP was inhibited to a similar extent when evaluated on whole blood and on PRP of ticlopidine-treated rats showing that circulating PGs are probably not directly responsible for the antiaggregating effects of the drug. When platelets collected from ticlopidine-treated rats were separated from their plasma, they became largely refractory to ADP. PGE2 was equally effective in potentiating platelet aggregation of washed platelets of treated and untreated animals, but failed to fully restore the impaired responsiveness to ADP of washed platelets from ticlopidine-treated rats. Our results indicate that ticlopidine does not prevent platelet aggregation by enhancing the antiaggregating effect of circulating PGs, and that ticlopidine or a metabolite, interact directly with the rat platelet, reducing its responsiveness to ADP.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1982

Inhibition by sulphinpyrazone of the platelet-dependent bronchoconstriction due to platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) in the guinea pig.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) injected into guinea-pigs induced platelet-dependent bronchoconstriction and thrombocytopenia. Treatment of the animals with sulphinpyrazone suppressed bronchoconstriction without affecting thrombocytopenia. When tested ex vivo and in vitro, sulphinpyrazone suppressed the PAF-acether-induced platelet release reaction, as measured by the release of ATP, more efficiently than platelet aggregation. In contrast, bronchoconstriction and thrombocytopenia in vivo, as well as platelet aggregation and the release reaction ex vivo and in vitro, induced by arachidonic acid (AA), were suppressed by sulphinpyrazone. This effect is accounted for by the known anti-arachidonate cyclooxygenase activity of sulphinpyrazone. Finally, aggregation by ADP was only marginally inhibited by sulphinpyrazone, and the inhibition was easily surmounted when the amounts of ADP added were increased. Sulphinpyrazone exerts a specific and cyclooxygenase-independent protective effect towards platelet activation by PAF-acether, which results in inhibition of platelet-dependent bronchoconstriction even though aggregation, and consequently in vivo thrombocytopenia, may persist.

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1982

Pharmacological properties of PAF-acether in the guinea-pig: platelet-dependent and independent reactions.

The in vivo effects of PAF-acether in the guniea-pig are reviewed, particularly with respect to bronchoconstriction and to platelets, the former being suppressed when the latter are depleted. Bronchoconstriction by PAF-acether is not inhibited by aspirin, and when the latter was associated to mepyramine and to methysergide, bronchoconstriction was blocked, whereas thrombocytopenia persisted. Our results indicated that platelets collected from aspirin--mepyramine--methysergide-treated animals are less reactive for PAF-acether than control platelets, with respect to secretion of ATP, but aggregated fully. Secretion and aggregation are thus dissociable, the former being involved with bronchoconstriction. Results obtained with sulphinpyrazone and with reserpine are also discussed, and lead to the concept that platelet may release a presently unknown mediator when stimulated with PAF-acether.

Animals↗