title: Leukotriene B4 release and polymorphonuclear cell infiltration in spinal cord injury.
abstract: Activation of arachidonic acid occurs after spinal cord injury. Leukotriene B4 is a lipoxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid. In a rat model of experimental spinal cord injury, we found that the leukotriene B4 content was less than the sensitivity of our assay (8 pg/mg of protein) in non-traumatized spinal cord. Leukotriene B4 was detectable in traumatized cord (mean +/- SE, 25 +/- 5 pg/mg of protein; n = 3). Release of leukotriene B4 from spinal cord slices into the incubation medium was also noted after trauma (9 +/- 1 pg/mg of protein; n = 12) and was enhanced by exposure of traumatized spinal cord slices to the calcium ionophore A23187 (375 +/- 43 pg/mg of protein; n = 12). The amount of leukotriene B4 released corresponded to the extent of post-traumatic polymorphonuclear cell infiltration determined by a myeloperoxidase assay. Results from this study suggest that the source of leukotriene B4 in spinal cord injury is infiltrating polymorphonuclear cells.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston 29425.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: T H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Hogan
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Perot
authors.forename: H H
authors.initials: HH
authors.lastname: Tai
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007975:Leukotriene B4 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000473:pathology*; D009195:Peroxidase / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D013119:Spinal Cord Injuries / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D007975:Leukotriene B4; D000001:Calcimycin; D009195:Peroxidase