Toluene diisocyanate-stimulated release of arachidonic acid metabolites in the organ bath from guinea-pig airways

This study was designed to evaluate whether metabolites of arachidonic acid play a role in the contractile response to toluene diisocyanate in isolated guinea pig airways. In control experiments we collected the supernatant from an organ bath over a time period of 2 h, after the addition to toluene diisocyanate (100 and 300 μM), and after the addition of toluene diisocyanate (300 μM) in the presence of indomethacin (5 μM). We measured prostaglandin E 2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F 1α, protaglandin F 2α, thromboxane B 2, leukotriene B 4, leukotriene C 4/D 4/E 4/F 4 by radioimmunoassays. Levels of protaglandin F 2α and 6-ketoprostaglandin F 1α increased significantly after addition of toluene diisocyanate in the absence of indomethacin. These results suggest that prostaglandins are involed in toluene diisocyanate-induced contractions in guinea-pig airways.