Platelet involvement in rat paw edema induced by 2-methoxy-PAF

PAF-acether (PAF) or 2-methoxy-PAF (2-MX) caused a dose-dependent paw edema showing a 1: 25 ratio between their inflammatory activities. 2-MX caused a thrombocytopenia, whereas PAF did not alter the number of these cells. Both phospholipids induced reductions in total leukocyte count. Rat antiplatelet serum produced platelet depletion by PAF-induced paw edema was unaffected. The edema of 2-MX was significantly reduced by antiplatelet serum, under conditions where normal serum was inactive against the edema induced by PAF or 2-MX. Histopathological analysis of PAF and 2-MX-induced edema showed, in the first case, a small infiltrate of neutrophils, some lymphocytes, and several mastocytes around the vessels and, in the second, a neutrophilic infiltrate. These results suggest that PAF and 2-MX may produce edema through different mechanisms and that 2-MX causes edema in part through platelet activation.