title: Effects of platelet activating factor on the distribution of radiolabelled leucocytes and platelets in normal horses and asymptomatic horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
abstract: Antigen challenge is known to cause the recruitment of neutrophils to the lungs of horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To evaluate a possible role of platelet activating factor (PAF) in this process, the effects of PAF on the distribution of radiolabelled neutrophils were compared in normal horses and asymptomatic horses with COPD. Changes in lung function, heart rate and the distribution of platelets and eosinophils were also measured. PAF (5 ng kg-1 intravenously) caused immediate but transient increases in the number of radiolabelled neutrophils in the lungs and a concomitant decrease in the peripheral neutrophil count. The total numbers of circulating leucocytes and neutrophils were also significantly decreased by PAF. Rapid and reversible increases in heart rate, respiratory rate and pleural pressure were also observed. In separate experiments, the numbers of radiolabelled eosinophils and platelets in the lungs increased transiently after the administration of PAF. The responses to PAF were qualitatively and quantitatively similar in normal horses and asymptomatic COPD horses. The PAF receptor antagonist WEB2086 (3 mg kg-1 intravenously) inhibited the effects of PAF. These results suggest that PAF, if released in the lungs of horses with COPD during an antigen challenge, might contribute to the recruitment of leucocytes and the respiratory changes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Basic Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, North Mymms, Hatfield, Hertfordshire.
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Fairbairn
authors.forename: K A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Marr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lees
authors.forename: F M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Page
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D001381:Azepines / Q000494:pharmacology; D001792:Blood Platelets / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004804:Eosinophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006734:Horse Diseases; D006736:Horses; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D009504:Neutrophils / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D010994:Pleura; D011312:Pressure; D012016:Reference Values; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests / Q000662:veterinary; D013997:Time Factors; D014230:Triazoles / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001381:Azepines; D007205:Indium Radioisotopes; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; D010975:Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors; D014230:Triazoles; C052518:WEB 2086