| Abstract: | 1. The inflammatory effects of hydroperoxy (HPETE) and hydroxy (HETE) acids, synthesized by arachidonic acid lipoxygenases, have been investigated in rabbit skin. 2. High doses (10-20 micrograms) of 5-, 12- or 15-HPETE or the 5,12-di-hydroxy acid, leukotriene B4 (0.1-1 micrograms), caused small but significant increases in plasma exudation following intra-dermal injection. 3. Leukotriene B4 was equipotent with prostaglandin E2 and prostacyclin in potentiating bradykinin-induced plasma exudation, and was 100 times more active in this property than any other lipoxygenase product tested. 4. Leukotriene B4-induced plasma exudation was enhanced by prostaglandin E2. 5. The mono-HETEs were relatively inactive in causing or enhancing plasma exudation. 6. Leukotriene B4 (0.1 microgram) or prostaglandin E1 (1.0 micrograms) significantly elevated leukocyte accumulation in rabbit skin, whereas PGE2, 5-HPETE, 5-HETE, 12-HPETE or 12-HETE were inactive at doses up to 1 microgram. |
