title: Cysteinyl leukotriene receptor assays.
abstract: The cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), LTC4, LTD4 and LTE4, lipid products derived from arachidonic acid metabolism, have been implicated in the pathophysiology of several inflammatory diseases, in particular, asthma. This unit describes techniques and applications for the measurement of contractile responses to the CysLTs in isolated smooth muscle preparations. The contractions are assessed by standard methods for the isometric measurement of responses (contractile or relaxant) of isolated tissues to exogenous agonists, and a detailed description of the methods employed to assess CysLT-induced contractions in guinea-pig trachea is outlined. However, the same general methodology (other than parameters such as dissection for non-airway tissues) are appropriate for measuring CysLT-induced contractions in airway preparations from other animals, and in non-airways tissues (e.g., the gastrointestinal tract) from different species, and also in exploring the relaxant responses to the CysLTs that have been demonstrated in some tissues (e.g., pulmonary vein or artery).
authors.affiliation: SmithKline Beecham Pharmaceuticals, King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, USA.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Muccitelli
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Luttmann
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hay
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001681:Biological Assay / Q000379:methods*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006168:Guinea Pigs; D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017997:Leukotriene C4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D017998:Leukotriene D4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D017999:Leukotriene E4 / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000187:drug effects*; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene / Q000819:agonists* / Q000187:drug effects; D013057:Spectrum Analysis / Q000379:methods; D014132:Trachea / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D020024:Leukotriene Antagonists; D018077:Receptors, Leukotriene; D017997:Leukotriene C4; D017998:Leukotriene D4; D017999:Leukotriene E4