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Biomedical subjects

L M Hillegass

Publications and source records attributed to L M Hillegass.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Role of complement in endotoxin/platelet-activating factor-induced lung injury.

C receptor-1 is a protein involved in the regulation of C3 and C5-convertases. Recombinant human soluble C receptor-1 has recently been produced and shown to reduce infarct size in a rat model of myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury. The present study aimed to investigate whether recombinant human soluble C receptor-1 exerts any protective effect on pulmonary injury produced in a rodent model of adult respiratory distress syndrome. In this model, Escherichia coli endotoxin (LPS, 0.1 microgram/kg) combined with platelet-activating factor (1 pmol/kg/min over 60 min, n = 10) caused microvascular lung injury characterized by elevation of myeloperoxidase activity, deposition of C3 and C5b-9 on the endothelium of pulmonary vessels, and pulmonary edema. Furthermore, bronchoalveolar lavage revealed increased neutrophil count and elevated protein concentration. These pulmonary responses were associated with elevated serum TNF-alpha. Pretreatment (10 min, i.v.) with recombinant human soluble C receptor-1 at 10 mg/kg (n = 13), but not at 1 mg/kg, prevented the LPS/platelet-activating factor-induced pulmonary edema (p less than 0.01) and changes in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid cell count (p less than 0.01) and protein concentration (p less than 0.05), and attenuated the deposition of C3 and C5b-9 to lung vessels. There was no effect on lung myeloperoxidase activity and serum TNF-alpha. Also, C depletion by cobra venom factor (500 U/kg, i.v.) eliminated the pulmonary edema and elevated leukocyte count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, but had no effect on lung myeloperoxidase activity and serum TNF-alpha. These data suggest that C factors may play an important role in the pathophysiology of adult respiratory distress syndrome.

Animals

Cardioprotective effects of the vasodilator/beta-adrenoceptor blocker, carvedilol, in two models of myocardial infarction in the rat.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of carvedilol, a beta-adrenergic blocker and vasodilator, in two models of ischemic myocardial damage in the rat. Following coronary artery occlusion for 0.5 h and reperfusion for 24 h (MI/R group), left ventricular (LV) injury was determined by planimetric analysis of triphenyltetrazolium chloride-stained tissue, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration was assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. In the vehicle-treated MI/R group, infarct size was 14.2 +/- 1.3% of the LV (n = 16), and MPO activity was increased to 2.8 +/- 0.7 from 0.14 +/- 0.03 U/g tissue in the vehicle-treated sham-occluded group (p less than 0.01). Carvedilol (1 mg/kg i.v., 15 min prior to coronary artery occlusion and at 3.5 h following reperfusion) reduced myocardial infarct size to 7.5 +/- 1.2% of the LV (n = 14; p less than 0.01) and attenuated the increase in MPO activity to 1.4 +/- 0.4 U/g tissue (p less than 0.05). A lower dose of carvedilol (i.e. 0.3 mg/kg i.v.) did not limit myocardial infarct size or the increase in MPO activity. In a model of permanent coronary artery occlusion, 24-hour survival was reduced from 85% in sham-occluded animals (n = 38) to 44% in the vehicle-treated MI group (n = 84; p less than 0.01). In comparison to the vehicle-treated MI group, carvedilol (0.3 mg/kg i.v., 15 min prior to coronary artery occlusion and 1 mg/kg 4 h after occlusion) improved survival by 55% (n = 64; p less than 0.05, compared to the vehicle-treated MI group), whereas the same dose of propranolol (n = 42) had no significant effect on survival. These results indicate that carvedilol reduces myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, and significantly improves survival in a permanent coronary artery occlusion model of myocardial infarction.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists

Reperfusion increases neutrophils and leukotriene B4 receptor binding in rat focal ischemia.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Neutrophils are critically involved with ischemia and reperfusion injury in many tissues but have not been studied under conditions of reperfusion after focal cerebral ischemia. The present studies were conducted to confirm our previous observations quantifying neutrophils in rat permanent focal stroke using a myeloperoxidase activity assay and to extend them to transient ischemia with reperfusion. In addition, leukotriene B4 receptor binding in ischemic tissue was evaluated as a potential marker for inflammatory cell infiltration. METHODS: Histological, enzymatic, and receptor binding techniques were used to evaluate neutrophil infiltration and receptor binding in infarcted cortical tissue 24 hours after permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion (n = 25) or temporary occlusion for 80 (n = 12) or 160 (n = 22) minutes followed by reperfusion for 24 hours in spontaneously hypertensive rats. RESULTS: Sham surgery (n = 26) produced no changes in any parameter measured. After permanent middle cerebral artery occlusion, neutrophil accumulation was observed histologically, but the infiltration was moderate and typically within and adjacent to blood vessels bordering the infarcted cortex. After temporary middle cerebral artery occlusion with reperfusion, marked neutrophil infiltration was observed throughout the infarcted cortex. Myeloperoxidase activity was increased (p less than 0.05) after permanent occlusion and to a greater extent after temporary occlusion with reperfusion. Myeloperoxidase activity (units per gram wet weight) in ischemic cortex was increased over that in nonischemic (control) cortex 32.2-fold, 54.6-fold, and 92.1-fold for permanent occlusion and 80 and 160 minutes of temporary occlusion with reperfusion, respectively (p less than 0.05). Sham surgery produced no changes in myeloperoxidase activity. Leukotriene B4 receptor binding also was increased (p less than 0.05) after focal ischemia and paralleled the increases in myeloperoxidase activity. Ischemic cortex-specific receptor binding (femtomoles per milligram protein) was 3.87 +/- 0.63 in sham-operated rats and 4.57 +/- 0.98, 8.98 +/- 1.11, and 11.12 +/- 1.63 for rats subjected to permanent occlusion and 80 and 160 minutes of temporary occlusion with reperfusion, respectively (all p less than 0.05 different from sham-operated). Cortical myeloperoxidase activity was significantly correlated with the degree of cortical leukotriene B4 receptor binding (r = 0.66 and r = 0.79 in two different studies, p less than 0.01). CONCLUSION: These data indicate that neutrophils are involved in focal ischemia and that there is a dramatic accumulation of neutrophils in infarcted tissue during reperfusion that can be quantified using the myeloperoxidase activity assay. Leukotriene B4 receptor binding increases in infarcted tissue in a parallel manner, which suggests that the increased leukotriene B4 binding is to receptors located on the accumulating neutrophils.

Animals

Pharmacology of the pyrroloimidazole, SK&F 105809--I. Inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production and of 5-lipoxygenase- and cyclooxygenase-mediated metabolism of arachidonic acid.

SK&F 105809 [2-(4- methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2- a] imidazole] was determined to be a prodrug for the sulfide metabolite SK&F 105561 [2-(4- methylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a] imidazole] which inhibited interleukin-1 (IL-1) production in vitro and both 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and prostaglandin H (PGH) synthase activities in vitro and ex vivo. SK&F 105561 inhibited partially purified 5-LO with a half-maximal concentration (IC50) of 3 microM. This inhibition was reversible, independent of preincubation time, and dependent on the concentration of the substrate arachidonic acid. SK&F 105561 also inhibited purified PGH synthase with the potency dependent on the level of peroxidase activity. The IC50 was 100 microM in the absence of peroxidase activity, whereas an IC50 of 3 microM was observed in the presence of peroxidase activity. Using human monocytes, SK&F 105561 inhibited A23187-stimulated prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4) production with IC50 values of 0.1 and 2 microM, respectively. In addition, IL-1 production by lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human monocytes was also inhibited (IC50 2 microM). Oral administration of SK&F 105809 to rats resulted in a dose-related generation of SK&F 105561 and in the inhibition of thromboxane B2 and LTB4 production ex vivo with a half-maximal dose (ED50) of 15 and 60 mg/kg, respectively. SK&F 105561 showed weak inhibitory activity on 12-lipoxygenase with an IC50 of greater than 200 microM. Neither SK&F 105561 nor SK&F 105809 inhibited the stimulated-turnover of arachidonic acid-containing phospholipids in human monocytes or the activity of cell-free phospholipases A2 and C. Moreover, neither SK&F 105561 nor SK&F 105809 antagonized the binding of LTB4 or leukotriene D4 to membrane receptors. From these results, SK&F 105561, the active principle of SK&F 105809, acts as an inhibitor of both inflammatory cytokine and eicosanoid production.

Animals

Pharmacology of the pyrroloimidazole, SK&F 105809--II. Antiinflammatory activity and inhibition of mediator production in vivo.

SK&F 105809 [2-(4-methylsulfinylphenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)- 6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2,a] imidazole] demonstrated unique antiinflammatory activities in murine models that are resistant to selective cyclooxygenase (CO) inhibitors. Both edema and inflammatory cell infiltration induced by the topical application of arachidonic acid to the mouse ear were decreased by SK&F 105809 (ED50 values of 44 mg/kg, p.o.). Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration following the intraperitoneal injection of either monosodium urate crystal or carrageenan was inhibited with ED50 values of 64 and 72 mg/kg, p.o., respectively. These inflammatory responses were unaffected by the selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor naproxen. SK&F 105809 also inhibited leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and prostaglandin E2 production in vivo in arachidonic acid-induced inflammatory exudates (ED50 values of 41 and 15 mg/kg, p.o., respectively). The inhibition of LTB4 production preceded the inhibition of PMN infiltration. The impact of inhibition of both 5-lipoxygenase (5-LO) and CO was seen with platelet-activating factor-induced vascular permeability which was inhibited markedly by SK&F 105809. However, the 5-LO inhibitor, phenidone, only strongly inhibited when coadministered with the selective CO inhibitor, indomethacin. In spite of a short half-life (14-18 min) for both SK&F 105809 and the active metabolite SK&F 105561 [2-(4- methylthiophenyl)-3-(4-pyridyl)-6,7-dihydro-[5H]-pyrrolo[1,2-a] imidazole], the pharmacological activity lasted at least 1.5 hr. The biochemical evidence of inhibition of interleukin-1 (IL-1) production and 5-LO and CO activity, in vitro, by the metabolite (SK&F 105561) seen in the companion paper (Marshall PJ, Griswold DE, Breton J. Webb EF, Hillegass LM, Sarau HM, Newton J Jr, Lee JC, Bender PE and Hanna N, Pharmacology of the pyrroloimidazole, SK&F 105809--I. Inhibition of inflammatory cytokine production and of 5-lipoxygenase- and cyclooxygenase-mediated metabolism of arachidonic acid. Biochem Pharmacol 42: 813-824, 1991) and inhibition of the fluid and cellular phases of the inflammatory response, in vivo, by SK&F 105809 suggest that this compound possesses a unique profile of activity.

Animals

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration into cerebral focal ischemic tissue: myeloperoxidase activity assay and histologic verification.

Two different techniques were utilized to identify the infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) into cerebral tissue following focal ischemia: histologic analysis and a modified myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity assay. Twenty-four hours after producing permanent cortical ischemia by occluding and severing the middle cerebral artery of male spontaneously hypertensive rats, contralateral hemiparalysis and sensory-motor deficits were observed due to cerebral infarction of the frontal and parietal cortex. In hematoxylin-and-eosin-stained histologic sections, PMN, predominantly neutrophils, were identified at various stages of diapedesis from deep cerebral and meningeal vessels at the periphery of the infarct, into brain parenchyma. When MPO activity in normal brain tissue was studied initially, it could not be demonstrated in normal tissues extracted from non-washed homogenates. However, if tissue was homogenized in phosphate buffer (i.e., washed), MPO activity was expressed upon extraction. Utilizing this modified assay, MPO activity was significantly increased only in the infarcted cortex compared to other normal areas of the brain. This was observed in non-perfused animals and after perfusion with isotonic saline to remove blood constituents from the vasculature prior to brain removal. The increased PMN infiltration and MPO activity were not observed in forebrain tissue of sham-operated control rats. Also, MPO activity was not increased in the ischemic cortex of MCAO rats perfused immediately after middle cerebral artery occlusion, indicating that blood was not trapped in the ischemic area. By using a leukocyte histochemical staining assay, activity of peroxidases was identified within vascular-adhering/infiltrating PMN in the infarcted cortex 24 hr after focal ischemia. An evaluation of several blood components indicated that increased MPO activity was selective for PMN. The observed increase of approximately 0.3 U MPO/g wet weight ischemic tissue vs. nonischemic cerebral tissues probably reflects the increased vascular adherance/infiltration of approximately 600,000 PMN/g wet weight infarcted cortex 24 hr after focal ischemia. This combined biochemical and histological study strongly suggests that PMN adhere within blood vessels and infiltrate into brain tissue injured by focal ischemia and that the associated inflammatory response might contribute to delayed progressive tissue damage in focal stroke. This modified MPO assay is a useful, quantitative index of PMN that can be utilized to elucidate the potential deleterious consequences of neutrophils infiltrating into the central nervous system after cerebral ischemia, trauma, or other pro-inflammatory stimuli.

Animals

Induction of plasma exudation and inflammatory cell infiltration by leukotriene C4 and leukotriene B4 in mouse peritonitis.

Leukotriene induction of the fluid and cellular phases of the inflammatory response in the mouse was evaluated. Intraperitoneal injection of leukotriene C4 (LTC4 250 ng) led to dye extravasation but not polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration, whereas injection of leukotriene B4 (LTB4 250 ng), led to PMN infiltration but not dye extravasation. The injection of both leukotrienes did not result in synergy. LTC4 did not appear to induce significant release or formation of chemotactic mediators, but the dye extravasation induced by LTC4 was inhibited by the vasoactive amine antagonist cyproheptadine and not by the eicosanoid inhibitors phenidone or naproxen. The response was markedly inhibited by the cytokine and eicosanoid inhibitors SK&F 86002 and SK&F 104493. PMN infiltration induced by LTB4 was not inhibited by SK&F 86002 or phenidone but was abrogated by colchicine treatment. LTB4 in this model did not appear to cause release or formation of vasoactive mediators. These leukotrienes appeared to be independent, complementary, and sufficient to mount a complete inflammatory response in the mouse.

Animals

Reduction in myocardial ischemic/reperfusion injury and neutrophil accumulation after therapeutic administration of streptokinase.

The benefit of thrombolytic agents to reduce myocardial infarct size, improve left ventricular (LV) function, and prolong survival in human subjects is generally recognized, although the precise mechanism is poorly defined. This study was designed to evaluate the cardioprotective effects of streptokinase (SK) in rats, a species less responsive to plasminogen activators, using a model of mechanical occlusion and release of the left coronary artery. Myocardial injury and polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration were determined by measuring creatine phosphokinase (CPK) specific activity and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, respectively, in the LV free wall (LVFW). After coronary artery occlusion for 0.5 h and reperfusion for 24 h (myocardial ischemia, MI/R), CPK specific activity decreased from 7.0 +/- 0.3 U/mg protein in the sham + vehicle group to 5.6 +/- 0.5 U/mg protein in the MI/R + vehicle group (n = 19, p less than 0.01), while MPO activity increased from 0.14 +/- 0.03 U/g tissue in the sham + vehicle group to 2.8 +/- 0.7 U/g in the MI/R + vehicle group (p less than 0.001). Administration of SK (100,000 IU/kg + 50,000 IU/kg/h for 2 h beginning 15 min before coronary artery reperfusion) reduced the loss of CPK specific activity from reperfused myocardium (6.8 +/- 0.5 U/mg protein, n = 23, p less than 0.05 as compared with the MI/R + vehicle group) and attenuated the increase in MPO activity (1.3 +/- 0.4 U/g tissue, p less than 0.05 as compared with the MI/R + vehicle group). This dose of SK did not change plasma fibrinogen concentration, slightly reduced plasminogen activity (i.e., 20% from control value), and markedly reduced alpha 2-antiplasmin activity (i.e., 60% from control values). A lower dose of SK (i.e., 10,000 IU/kg + 5,000 IU/kg/h for 2 h) did not reduce myocardial injury, did not attenuate the increase in MPO activity, and had no effect on the measured hemostatic parameters. Survival in all MI/R groups ranged from 62 to 66%, and there were no differences in survival between any of the groups (p greater than 0.05). In a model of arachidonic acid-induced rat hindpaw inflammation, SK had no effect on the increase in MPO activity, suggesting that the increase in myocardial MPO activity was not due to a direct effect on inflammatory cell accumulation. In in vitro studies, SK (1-1,000 U/ml) did not scavenge superoxide anion produced by purine (10 mM) and xanthine oxidase (10 mU/ml), nor did it reduce superoxide release, beta-glucuronidase release, or neutrophil aggregation of rabbit peritoneal neutrophils activated with fMLP.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Animals

Priming by platelet-activating factor of endotoxin-induced lung injury and cardiovascular shock.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) is a glycerophospholipid known for its unusual potent vasoactive and proinflammatory activities. The present study examined whether PAF might serve as a priming factor in endotoxin-induced tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) synthesis, cardiovascular shock, and lung injury in anesthetized rats. Intravenous infusion of PAF (1 pmol/kg/min for 60 minutes, n = 5) alone or endotoxin (0.1 micrograms/kg i.v. bolus, n = 5) failed to alter blood pressure, serum TNF alpha and thromboxane B2, platelet and leukocyte count, and hematocrit, nor was lung histology, myeloperoxidase activity, and water content changed. In contrast, the combined administration of PAF and endotoxin markedly elevated serum TNF alpha (1,359 +/- 362 pg/ml, n = 5, p less than 0.01) and thromboxane B2 (43 +/- 5 pg/100 microliters, n = 8, p less than 0.01) along with hypotension, hemoconcentration, leukopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Most notably, the combined regimen caused neutrophil aggregation, adhesion, and accumulation into the lung parenchyma along with platelet-fibrin deposits in postcapillary venules, pulmonary edema, and increased lung myeloperoxidase activity. The role of PAF in this process was confirmed by 1) the prevention of the priming effect by pretreatment with the PAF antagonist BN 50739 (n = 5), and 2) the failure of lyso-PAF, the cardinal nonactive PAF-metabolite, to prime for endotoxin-induced production of TNF alpha (n = 4). These data suggest that PAF could serve as a key mediator in priming for endotoxin-induced tissue injury, especially the typical pulmonary pathophysiology of adult respiratory distress syndrome, a severe pathological outcome of septic shock, burns, and multiple organ injury.

Animals

Assessment of myeloperoxidase activity in whole rat kidney.

A method to quantitate myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity from rat whole kidney is described. Polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) infiltration into tissue is a hallmark of acute inflammation. Historically, the degree of inflammation has been quantified by the identification and enumeration of PMNs histologically or by some other means. More recently, the enzyme activity of MPO, a marker enzyme for PMN, and freshly emigrated monocytes in many inflamed tissues has replaced these methods. The kidney, however, has been identified as a tissue from which MPO cannot be measured. Indeed, kidney homogenized by a standard extraction procedure was devoid of MPO activity. We modified the established methodology so that kidney was homogenized in 5 mM potassium phosphate buffer (PB) first and then centrifuged at 30,000 g for 30 min at 4 degrees C prior to extraction. The resulting 30,000 g pellets expressed MPO activity after suspending them in 50 mM PB containing 0.5% hexadecyltrimethylammoniumbromide (HTAB). Interference in the assay was observed with supernatants from control and inflamed kidney, which appeared to be due to kidney-derived material forming a complex with HTAB. After washing the pellets twice, we noted that their extracts exhibited greater activity, and interference from supernatants was abolished. Using this method, we observed that acutely inflamed kidneys from rats treated with sheep nephrotoxic immunoglobulin G (IgG) had significantly elevated MPO activity over kidneys from control rats. Thus, the described technique allows for the routine assay of MPO in kidney tissue.

Animals

Selective antagonism of peptidoleukotriene responses does not reduce myocardial damage or neutrophil accumulation following coronary artery occlusion with reperfusion.

This study was designed to assess the effect of a peptidoleukotriene receptor antagonist, SK&F 104353, for limiting myocardial damage and neutrophil accumulation in rats subjected to myocardial reperfusion injury (MI/R). In conscious rats, SK&F 10,4353 (25 mg/kg, i.v.) antagonized LTD4-induced vasopressor responses by 90% and 60% at 1 and 4 hr, respectively, indicating effective blockade of peptido-leukotriene responses. In another group of animals subjected to 30 min of coronary artery occlusion with reperfusion for 24 hr, myocardial injury and neutrophil infiltration were determined by measuring creatine phosphokinase (CPK) specific activity and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, respectively, in the left ventricular free wall (LVFW). Myocardial CPK levels were 8.1 +/- 0.2 U/mg protein in Sham-MI/R vehicle-treated animals, and were significantly decreased to 6.4 +/- 0.6 U/mg protein in MI/R-vehicle animals. Myocardial MPO values were 1.5 +/- 0.5 U/g LVFW in Sham-MI/R vehicle-treated animals, and significantly increased to 4.3 +/- 0.6 U/g LVFW in MI/R-vehicle animals. Administration of SK&F 10,4353 (25 mg/kg, i.v.) 1 min prior to coronary occlusion and 3.5 hr post reperfusion had no effect on the loss of myocardial CPK specific activity or the increase in MPO levels (p greater than 0.05, compared to the MI/R-vehicle group). Thus, at a dose that antagonized LTD4-induced vasopressor responses, SK&F 104353 did not attenuate either the extent of myocardial injury or inflammatory cell accumulation associated with myocardial ischemia/reperfusion. These results suggest that peptidoleukotrienes do not contribute to the progression of myocardial ischemic/reperfusion injury.

Animals

Tetrahydrothiadiazoloisoquinolines: synthesis and inhibition of phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase.

A series of 7,8-fused heterocyclic tetrahydroisoquinolines were synthesized and tested as inhibitors of rabbit adrenal phenylethanolamine-N-methyltransferase (PNMT). 6,7,8,9-Tetrahydro[1,2,3]thiadiazolo[5,4-h]isoquinoline 5 (SK&F 86607) was found to be a potent inhibitor of PNMT with an IC50 similar to that of 7,8-dichloro-1,2,3,4-tetrahydroisoquinoline (1, SK&F 64139). The isomeric tetrahydro[1,2,3]thiadiazolo[4,5-h]- and tetrahydro[1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-h]isoquinolines, 13 and 20, were also potent PNMT inhibitors. However, substitution of Cl at position 5 (17) resulted in loss of potency similar to the loss observed in the 5-chloro analogue of 1. The 1,2,5 isomer 20 showed only a small drop in activity at 10(-6) M. All of the thiadiazoles were more potent than the 7,8-benzo-fused analogue 36. Fusion of other five-membered heterocyclic ring systems at the 7,8-position, e.g. triazole 22 and imidazoles 24 and 26, resulted in a decrease of PNMT inhibition. The alpha-adrenoreceptor affinities of 1 and 5 were also compared.

Adrenal Glands

Reduction of myocardial damage and polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulation following coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion by the thromboxane receptor antagonist BM 13.505.

This study was designed to assess the effect of the thromboxane receptor antagonist, BM 13.505, in limiting myocardial damage and polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulation in rats subjected to coronary artery occlusion for 30 min with reperfusion for 24 h (MI/R). Myocardial injury and polymorphonuclear leukocyte infiltration were determined by measuring creatine phosphokinase (CPK) specific activity and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, respectively, in the left ventricular free wall (LVFW). Myocardial CPK levels were 8.24 +/- 0.33 U/mg protein in sham MI/R-vehicle-treated animals (n = 18), and were significantly decreased to 6.51 +/- 0.44 U/mg protein in MI/R-vehicle animals (n = 22). Myocardial MPO values were 2.4 +/- 0.5 U/g LVFW in sham MI/R animals, and significantly increased to 10.9 +/- 1.3 U/g LVFW in MI/R-vehicle animals. Administration of BM 13.505 (30 mg/kg, i.p.) 1 min prior to coronary occlusion resulted in CPK values of 7.83 +/- 0.45 U/mg protein and MPO levels of 6.1 +/- 0.9 U/g LVFW (p less than 0.05, compared to the MI/R-vehicle group). The survival rate in the MI/R-BM 13.505 group was 74 and 65% at 2 and 24 h, respectively, and was not different from the MI/R-vehicle group. There were no significant differences in mean arterial blood pressure or heart rate between the MI/R-vehicle and MI/R-BM 13.505 groups, indicating that changes in myocardial oxygen demand do not explain the protective effects. A lower dose did not reduce myocardial injury, indicating that the effects of BM 13.505 were dose dependent.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5

Effect of inhibitors of eicosanoid metabolism in murine collagen-induced arthritis.

The dual inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism, Smith Kline & French (SK&F) 86002, SK&F 104351, and phenidone; the corticosteroid, dexamethasone; and the selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors, ibuprofen, indomethacin, naproxen, and piroxicam were evaluated for their antiarthritic potency in the murine, collagen-induced arthritis model. The ability of these compounds to alter the severity of arthritic lesions and to reduce serum levels of the acute-phase reactant, serum amyloid P component (SAP) were monitored. Serum concentrations of SAP were found to correlate strongly (r = 0.985) with disease severity at day 35 postimmunization. Treatment with SK&F 86002, SK&F 104351, phenidone, or dexamethasone significantly reduced disease severity, as judged by clinical score (55%, 72%, 41%, and 45% inhibition, respectively) and SAP levels (62%, 94%, 52%, and 94% inhibition, respectively) in arthritic mice. This profile of activity was not shared by the selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors, which did not uniformly inhibit disease activity by both parameters. The results suggest that dual inhibitors of 5-lipoxygenase and cyclooxygenase may prove more effective than selective cyclooxygenase inhibitors as anti-arthritic agents.

Animals

Method for quantification of myocardial infarction and inflammatory cell infiltration in rat cardiac tissue.

A method to quantitate both creatine phosphokinase (CPK) and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity from the same cardiac tissue homogenate preparation is described. Depletion of CPK specific activity is used to quantitate myocardial infarct size, while MPO activity is utilized as a marker for polymorphonuclear leukocyte and monocyte infiltration into inflammatory sites. However, the standard assay systems are not compatible, necessitating the use of different groups of animals for these two parameters. This leads to an increase in cost, effort, and variability. The described method utilized a standard CPK methodology. It was found that interference in the MPO assay was likely caused by 2-mercaptoethanol present in the homogenate buffer (IC50 = 90 microM). Washing of the 30 K X g pellet followed by rehomogenization restored the MPO activity. Negligible MPO activity was found in the original supernatant or washes. Through the use of this technique, MPO activity was measured in the hearts of myocardial infarcted animals. The results indicated that MPO activity generated from CPK homogenate pellets compared favorably to the activity seen using standard methodology homogenates. The procedure described thus allowed the simultaneous determination of myocardial CPK specific activity and MPO activity, resulting in decreased animal usage and potentially less variability.

Animals

Temporal relation between neutrophil accumulation and myocardial reperfusion injury.

Infiltration of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) is associated with the progression of myocardial infarction and reperfusion injury. However, little is known about the time course of cellular infiltration. To investigate this issue, rats were subjected to 30 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion for less than or equal to 96 h. Myocardial injury was determined by measuring the depletion of myocardial creatine phosphokinase activity, and PMN infiltration was assessed by measuring myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. MPO activity increased from 0.7 U/g tissue in non-operated animals, to a peak of 6.7 +/- 0.8 and 6.4 +/- 1.4 U/g at 6 and 24 h after coronary artery reperfusion, respectively. MPO activity decreased to 3.3 +/- 0.8 U/g at 48 h and 1.1 +/- 0.4 U/g at 96 h, suggesting diminished PMN accumulation. Histological examination confirmed the accumulation and resolution of PMN over the 96-h period. At 24 h, there was a significant linear correlation between infarct size and MPO activity, whereas at 96 h no relationship was found. These data indicate that PMN infiltration occurs early in response to reperfusion injury and persists for only 24 h after initiation of reperfusion. These findings suggest that attempts to moderate inflammatory cell responses to myocardial injury should be administered early after coronary artery reperfusion to limit the accumulation of potentially deleterious inflammatory cells.

Animals