PMID: 6410049Aug 1, 1983Paper

Suppression of lymphatic vessel contractility with inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism

The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
M G Johnston, C Feuer

Abstract

Contractions of lymphatic vessels play an important role in regulating lymph flow; however, little is known of the pharmacological properties of these vessels and the mechanisms regulating the contractions. Earlier work had suggested that arachidonic acid metabolites may play some role in the contractile process and in this report we have assessed the effects of various inhibitors of arachidonate metabolism on the contractions of bovine mesenteric lymphatic rings suspended in tissue baths. Aspirin and indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitors), BW 755C (a cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase inhibitor) and FPL 55712 (a slow reacting substance of anaphylaxis-leukotriene-antagonist) suppressed the phasic contractions of spontaneously active vessels. The addition of arachidonate to noncontracting vessels elicited phasic and tonic contractile activities which were similarly blocked with these drugs, as were the contractions elicited with several agonists. These results suggest that lymphatic vessel contractions are extremely susceptible to suppression with inhibitors of arachidonate metabolism implying that these drugs may alter extravascular fluid dynamics by a direct effect on the lymphatic vessel. The intrinsic contractile regulatory m...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

CSF & Lymphatic System

This feed focuses on Cerebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) and the lymphatic system. Discover the latest papers using imaging techniques to track CSF outflow into the lymphatic system in animal models.