Abstract

A phospholipid mediator identified as l-0-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine (1,2), platelet-activating factor (PAF-acether) has been demonstrated to play an important role in a variety of inflammatory, respiratory and cardiovascular disorders (3). Intravenous injection of PAF-acether induces strong systemic reactions mimicking typical anaphylactoid reactions such as bronchospasm (4), increased vascular permeability (5) and hypotension (6). Such similarities are found in vitro in perfused organs. In isolated perfused guinea-pig heart, injection of PAF-acether produces a coronary constriction and heart failure with a decrease in contractile force (7) which are characteristics of in vitro cardiac anaphylaxis (8). BN 52021, a specific PAF-acether receptor antagonist has been shown to inhibit PAF-acether effects in various models : contraction of guinea-pig lung strips (9), hypotension in rats (10). It also antagonizes the hemodynamic modifications occurring in shock states such as endotoxemia in guinea-pig (11) and anaphylaxis in rat (12). Here we report the effects of PAF-acether and BN 52021 on isolated perfused guinea-pig heart.

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