Platelet-activating factor (PAF, 10-1000 pmol) induced dose-dependent relaxations of the basal tone of superfused strips of epithelium-intact guinea-pig trachea. Indomethacin (1.4 microM) completely inhibited and WEB 2086 (1 and 10 nM) effectively antagonised these relaxations. Following epithelial removal PAF evoked a single contraction. These results show that the PAF-induced relaxations of guinea-pig trachea are dependent on an intact epithelial layer and are mediated by a cyclo-oxygenase product.

The formation of leukotrienes (LTs) from arachidonic acid derived from phospholipids of the cell membrane is initially catalysed by 5-lipoxygenasel. Metabolism of the unstable epoxide LTA4 leads to the formation of LTB4 and the cysteinyl-containing LTs C4, D4 and E4. All these LTs have potent, although different, biological activities. LTB4 is a powerful chemotactic agent for leukocytes whereas LTs C4, D4 and E4 have potent smooth muscle stimulating actions and account for the biological activity of the allergic mediator previously known as slow-reacting substance of anaphylaxis (SRS-A)2. Leukotriene B4 has pro-inflammatory actions but little smooth muscle stimulating activity of its own whereas cysteinyl-containing LTs have potent actions in the cardiovascular system and in the airways in vitro and in vivo (see3,4).

Free fatty acids added in ethanol to human platelets prelabelled with [ 14 C ]arachidonate induce an accumulation of radioactive diacylglycerol. Unsaturated fatty acids are ten times more potent than palmitate. Ethanol alone does not alter the distribution of radioactivity. Increasing the concentration of arachidonate leads to increased diacylglycerol formation. The fatty acid effect is independent of thrombin, which itself causes a relatively small change in diacylglycerol levels. Neither the labelled triacylglycerol nor the labelled free fatty acid appears to be the source of the diacylglycerol formed which may arise from the activation of phosphatidylinositol phosphodiesterase.