The effects of leukotrienes (LTs) have been widely studied in the isolated perfused mammalian heart; however, little is known about the effect or metabolism of LTs in the isolated bullfrog heart. Isolated perfused bullfrog hearts were administered randomized doses of LTC4, LTD4, or LTE4. The cardiac parameters of heart rate, developed tension, and its first derivative (dT/dt) were recorded. LTC4 was the most potent of the leukotrienes tested in eliciting positive inotropic effects. LTD4 and LTE4 were equally effective but about one order of magnitude less potent than LTC4. None of the LTs showed any chronotropic effects in this preparation. A series of [3H]LTC4 metabolism experiments were carried out using whole perfused hearts and minced bullfrog heart tissue. Isolated perfused bullfrog hearts administered [3H]LTC4 converted significant amounts to [3H]LTD4, and to a lesser degree, [3H]LTE4, during the 6-min course of collection. Both minced atrial and ventricular tissue converted [3H]LTC4 to radioactive metabolites that co-migrated with authentic LTD4 and LTE4 standards. In both tissues, the major product was [3H]LTD4, with smaller amounts of [3H]LTE4 produced. The atrium converted significantly more [3H]LTC4 to its metabolites than did the ventricle. The metabolism of [3H]LTC4 to [3H]LTD4 by both tissues was virtually abolished in the presence of serine borate. Cysteine had no effect on [3H]LTE4 production. The data in this study demonstrate that leukotrienes have the opposite inotropic effect on the heart when compared with mammals. Also in contrast to mammals, frogs metabolize LTC4 to a less potent compound and may use the LTC4 to LTD4 conversion as a mechanism of LTC4 inactivation.
Ten frogs (Xenopus laevis) were injected with mixed bacteria to produce a septic peritonitis. Peritoneal inflammatory cells of eight animals were studied for monohydroxyeicosanoid and leukotriene production from exogenous arachidonic acid. Large amounts of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid were produced; smaller amounts of 5- and 15-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic and leukotriene B4 were produced. Identifications were confirmed by retention times on HPLC, ultraviolet spectroscopy on all products, and gas chromatograph/mass spectrometry in the case of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid.
Leukotrienes (LTs) have been shown to cause contraction of mammalian airway smooth muscle. In this study, LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 were tested on isolated strips of bullfrog lung. LTC4, LTD4, and LTE4 (10(-7) to 3 x 10(-10) M) stimulated lung contraction. LTC4 was the most potent, with LTD4 and LTE4 being of equal but lower potency. The cyclooxygenase inhibitors, indomethacin and ibuprofen, had no effect on the strength of leukotriene-induced contraction. In addition, the effects of three mammalian LTD4 receptor antagonists, L-649,923, L-648,051, and LY171883 were tested. All three antagonists failed to block LTC4-simulated contraction, but were effective blockers of LTD4. LTE4-stimulated contractions were significantly blunted by all three antagonists, but the extent of blockade was less than for LTD4. Significant bioconversion of [3H]LTC4 to LTD4 and LTE4 occurred in minced lung preparations but not in lung strips. Peptide leukotrienes caused contraction in amphibian lung, though the order of potency differs from mammals. Like mammals, frogs appear to have two classes of leukotriene receptors, one for LTC4 and one for LTD4-LTE4. These results support the hypothesis that leukotriene receptors have been highly conserved through evolution, despite the fact that the nature of tissue responsiveness to leukotrienes has changed over evolutionary time.
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