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 of toluene diisocyanate (100 and 300 microM), and after the addition of toluene diisocyanate (300 microM) in the presence of indomethacin (5 microM). We measured prostaglandin E2, 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, prostaglandin F2 alpha, thromboxane B2, leukotriene B4, leukotriene C4/D4/E4/F4 by radioimmunoassays. Levels of prostaglandin F2 alpha and 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha increased significantly after addition of toluene diisocyanate in the absence of indomethacin. These results suggest that prostaglandins are involved in toluene diisocyanate-induced contractions in guinea-pig airways.