Transformations of prostaglandin H2 in the cat brain

Lack of inhibitory effect of acetylsalicylic acid and meloxicam on whole blood platelet aggregation in cats

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) and meloxicam on feline platelet aggregation and associated platelet thromboxane production and serotonin release.

DESIGN

Prospective interventional study.

SETTING

University research facility.

ANIMALS

Eight healthy male castrated domestic short hair cats from a research colony.

INTERVENTIONS

Oral medications were administered to 8 cats for 14 days in a randomized, placebo-controlled, crossover design. Treatment groups included: aspirin (ASA) (5 mg/kg q 48 h), meloxicam (0.05 mg/kg q 24 h), and placebo (0.5 mL of water q 24 h). Thromboxane assays (TXB(2) ) and whole blood (impedance) aggregometry (WBA) were performed on samples collected before drug administration, and on days 7, 15, and 17, using adenosine diphosphate (ADP; 10 μM) and collagen (5 μg/mL) as agonists for WBA. Serotonin release was assayed on postaggregation plasma. Oral mucosal bleeding time (OMBT) and complete blood cell counts were measured on days 0 and 15.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS

Neither medication affected WBA at any time point. OMBT decreased in the ASA group relative to baseline. No differences were detected in WBA and OMBT baseline between any groups. No difference was detected in serotonin secretion at any time point. TXB(2) was significantly decreased in the ASA group at all times after initiation of treatment but no change was noted in the meloxicam or placebo groups.

CONCLUSIONS

At the doses studied, neither meloxicam nor ASA had an inhibitory effect on WBA or OMBT in cats. Thromboxane concentrations were significantly decreased with ASA treatment.

Comparative pyrogenic potency of endogenous prostanoids and of prostanoid-mimetics injected into the anterior hypothalamic/preoptic region of the cat

In both pyrogen-induced fever and fever subsequent to acute hypothalamic trauma, pyrexia is believed to be mediated by cyclooxygenase products acting within the anterior hypothalamic/preoptic (AH/PO) region of the brain. The goal of the present study was to assess, through a potency analysis, the likely contributions of various prostanoids to pyrexia production. Prostanoids and prostanoid-mimetics were injected bilaterally into the AH/PO region of conscious, indomethacin pretreated cats, and partial dose-response curves for pyrexic activity were obtained. ED1 degrees doses (doses producing a 1 degree C fever) for PGE2, PGE1 and 6-keto-PGE1 (a metabolite of PGI2 and/or of the PGI2 hydrolysis product, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha) ranged between 2 and 15 pmol. PGF2 alpha and the stable PGI2-mimetics, iloprost and 6-beta-PGI1, required doses of 900-1100 pmol. PGD2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha had ED1 degrees doses of 2200-2400 pmol. PGI2, thromboxane (TX) B2 and the TXA2/PGH2-mimetics, SQ26655, 9,11-azo-PGH2 and U46619, were incapable of producing a 1 degrees C rise at the maximum dose of 30,000 pmol. The results offer no support for an involvement in fever of PGF2 alpha, PGD2, TXA2, TXB2, PGH2, PGI2 or 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Only the 3 E-series prostaglandins were sufficiently potent to merit serious consideration as mediators of pyrexia. Of these, only PGE2 is known to be produced in abundance by cat brain; no information is available regarding PGE1 production, and our results with PGI2 and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha indicate that cat brain may not synthesize 6-keto-PGE1. The results thus suggest an important role for PGE2 in fever production in the cat and are compatible with an involvement of PGE1.

Purification and properties of prostaglandin H-E isomerase from the cytosol of human brain: identification as anionic forms of glutathione S-transferase

Prostaglandin H-E isomerase (EC 5.3.99.3) was purified from human brain cytosol. Purification was by ammonium sulfate fractionation, diethylaminoethyl-Sepharose chromatography, gel filtration on a BioGel P-100 column, GSH-agarose chromatography, and MonoQ chromatography. The activity was eluted in two peaks from the MonoQ column, which were designated peaks 1 and 2. The molecular weights of peaks 1 and 2, determined by gel filtration, were 42,000 and 44,000, respectively. On sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, peak 1 showed two bands at the molecular weights of 24,500 and 25,000, and peak 2 showed a single band at the molecular weight of 25,000, results suggesting that both were dimeric proteins. The pI values of both enzymes were approximately 5.4. The enzymes catalyzed selective conversion of prostaglandin H2 to prostaglandin E2. The Km values for prostaglandin H2 of peaks 1 and 2 were 147 and 308 microM, respectively, and the Vmax values were 380 and 720 nmol/min/mg of protein, respectively. GSH was required for the catalysis of both enzymes, and no other sulfhydryl compounds could support the reaction. A part of glutathione S-transferase (EC 2.5.1.18) was copurified with peaks 1 and 2 of prostaglandin H-E isomerase. Prostaglandin H-E isomerase activity of peak 2 enzyme was competitively inhibited by 1-chloro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, a substrate of glutathione S-transferase. These results suggested that prostaglandin H-E isomerases in human brain cytosol were identical with anionic forms of glutathione S-transferase.

Rat lens prostaglandin generation proceeds by the non-enzymatic degradation of PGH2 endoperoxide

Experiments were performed using [1-14C]PGH2 endoperoxide as substrate to assess which, if any, of the PGH2 utilizing enzymes were present in rat lens microsomes. After a 15 min incubation, prostaglandins (PGs) were extracted, separated by thin-layer chromatography and labeled PGs located by autoradiography. The bands were cut and counted and product formation expressed as a percentage of the total recovered label. Prostaglandin PGE2 formation accounted for 24% of the label and was not increased (22%) when 1 mM reduced glutathione (GSH), the obligate cofactor of PGH2----PGE2 isomerase, was added. However, the addition of the GSH significantly increased PGF2 alpha generation from 25% to 37%. Pretreatment of the microsomes with p-hydroxymercuribenzoate, a sulfhydryl-blocking agent and an inhibitor of PGH2----PGE2 isomerase, did not limit lens microsomal PGE2 formation (24% vs. 39%) but dramatically inhibited PGF2 alpha production (25% vs. 6%). Boiling the microsomes did not alter PGF2 alpha or PGE2 generation suggesting that these PGs were non-enzymatically produced. No thromboxane B2 or 6-keto-PGF1 alpha (the stable breakdown products of thromboxane A2 and prostacyclin, respectively) were found indicating that their respective synthetases were absent in the lens microsomes. These data suggest that the lens is a unique tissue, generating the primary PGs in the absence of all known PGH2 endoperoxide-utilizing enzymes. It appears that the PGH2 formed by lens cyclo-oxygenase spontaneously breaks down in the lens microsomes into PGE2, PGD2 and PGF2 alpha.

Brain arachidonic acid metabolites. Functions and interactions with ethanol

The formation and potential function of arachidonic acid metabolites in brain are reviewed briefly. Cyclooxygenase metabolites of arachidonic acid are formed in brain, but the lipoxygenase derivatives have not been demonstrated. Evidence clearly indicates that the cyclooxygenase products act as neuromodulators. Possible effects of leukotrienes on brain function remain in doubt, although several studies have suggested a role for the leukotrienes and it appears that these agents have a long-lasting effect. Potential interactions between ethanol and brain arachidonic acid metabolites have received minimal attention. Several studies indicate that pretreatment with prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors produces antagonism of ethanol's behavioral effects. These observations may be related to preliminary findings that ethanol increases brain prostaglandin content.

Evidence for the localization of hydrogen peroxide-stimulated cyclooxygenase activity in rat brain mitochondria: a possible coupling with monoamine oxidase

The distribution of basal and of H2O2-stimulated cyclooxygenase activity in the primary fractions of rat brain homogenates and in the subfractions of crude mitochondrial fraction was studied. For comparison, the localization of H2O2-generating monoamine oxidase (MAO) as well as that of the mitochondrial marker succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) was also examined. H2O2 was generated by MAO using 5 x 10(-4) M noradrenaline (NA) or 2 x 10(-4) M 2-phenylethylamine (PEA) as substrates, or by 25 micrograms glucose oxidase (GOD) per ml in the presence of 1 mM glucose. For nonstimulated (basal) cyclooxygenase, the relative specific activity (RSA) was high in microsomes (1.79) and in the free mitochondria-containing subfraction of the crude mitochondrial fraction (1.94). Parallel distribution of MAO and H2O2-stimulated cyclooxygenase was observed in all fractions studied in the presence of NA. The highest RSA was found in the purified mitochondria for both enzymes (1.85 for MAO and 1.97 for H2O2-stimulated cyclooxygenase). The enrichment of SDH (RSA = 2.21) indicated a high concentration of mitochondria in this fraction. The same distribution of H2O2-stimulated cyclooxygenase was obtained when, instead of the MAO-NA system, hydrogen peroxide was generated by GOD in the presence of glucose. H2O2 generated by deamination of NA or PEA by MAO, or during the enzymatic oxidation of glucose by GOD, caused a threefold increase in mitochondrial endoperoxide formation. Indomethacin (2 x 10(-4) M), catalase (50 micrograms/ml), and pargyline (2 x 10(-4) M) eliminated the MAO-dependent mitochondrial synthesis of PG endoperoxides. The GOD-dependent cyclooxygenase activity in this fraction was abolished by indomethacin or catalase, but not by pargyline. The results show the existence of a mitochondrial cyclooxygenase in brain tissue. The enzyme is sensitive to H2O2 and produces prostaglandin endoperoxides from an endogenous source of arachidonic acid. The identical localization of H2O2-producing MAO and H2O2-sensitive cyclooxygenase suggests a possible coupling between monoamine and arachidonic acid metabolism.

Measurement of prostaglandin biosynthetic capacity in discrete areas of the rabbit hippocampal formation

Assay conditions sensitive enough to measure prostaglandin (PG) biosynthetic capacity in discrete brain areas have been developed. Serial sections of the rabbit hippocampal formation were dissected from the brain, frozen, and 16 micron sections were cut and freeze dried. The assay was performed with 40-200 micrograms dry weight of tissue in a 30 microliter incubation volume containing high specific activity arachidonic acid. The whole hippocampal formation slice or its subdivisions (subiculum, dentate gyrus, and hippocampus) when assayed individually demonstrated the ability to produce approximately 30-50 pmol/mg dry weight PGF2 alpha, PGE2, and lesser amounts of PGD2 (in a ratio of 1:0.8:0.3). A modest yet significant increase in PGE2 production was measured in the dentate gyrus when compared to PGE2 formation in the subiculum or hippocampus. An intact PGE2 isomerase was confirmed in the hippocampal formation slice by incubations with PGH2 endoperoxide. These results demonstrate that quantitative histochemical techniques can be used to measure PG metabolism in microscopic regions of brain.

Eicosanoids: prostaglandins, thromboxanes, leukotrienes, and other derivatives of carbon-20 unsaturated fatty acids

In recent years, knowledge of the biochemistry of oxygenated metabolites of arachidonic acid has greatly increased. Their biological functions in acceleration and prevention of platelet aggregation and in inflammatory and immune reactions are becoming much clearer. The therapeutic value, particularly of PGI2 as well as selective inhibitors of synthesis, is also rapidly advancing. Despite much effort, the functional importance of prostaglandins and thromboxanes in the cNS in normal ongoing physiological processes is still quite uncertain. However, when parenchymal or vascular elements are damaged or invaded by extraneural cells, the synthesis of one or the other member of the eicosanoids is greatly increased and contributes significantly to pathophysiological reactions. Thus, prevention of synthesis is likely to have increasing importance in clinical neurology, particularly in cerebrovascular diseases.

On the mechanism of the involvement of monoamine oxidase in catecholamine-stimulated prostaglandin biosynthesis in particulate fraction of rat brain homogenates: role of hydrogen peroxide

The mechanism of involvement of monoamine oxidase (MAO) in catecholamine-stimulated prostaglandin (PG) biosynthesis was studied in the particulate fraction of rat brain homogenates. High concentrations of either noradrenaline (NA) or dopamine (DA) stimulated effectively PGF2 alpha formation. The same amount of 2-phenylethylamine (PEA) acted similarly, provided that it was administered together with a catecholamine analogue or metabolite possessing the 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl nucleus--3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol (DOPEG), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetaldehyde (DOPAL), or alpha-methylnoradrenaline (alpha-met-NA)--or with SnCl2. In the absence of PEA, these compounds were ineffective with regard to stimulation of PGF2 alpha formation. Catalase, pargyline, or indomethacin abolished completely PGF2 alpha formation elicited either by catecholamines or by PEA plus a 3,4-dihydroxyphenyl compound or SnCl2. With regard to the stimulation of PGF2 alpha formation in the presence of alpha-met-NA, PEA could be replaced by H2O2 generated by the glucose oxidase(GOD)-glucose system. The effect of H2O2 was inhibited by indomethacin or catalase, but pargyline was ineffective. It is assumed that catecholamines play a dual role in the activation of PG biosynthesis in brain tissue. During the enzymatic decomposition of catecholamines MAO produces H2O2, which stimulates endoperoxide synthesis. Simultaneously, catecholamines as hydrogen donors promote the nonenzymatic transformation of endoperoxides into PGF2 alpha. The possible physiological importance of these findings is discussed.