Arachidonic acid metabolites produced by bovine alveolar macrophages.

Bovine alveolar macrophages, obtained by bronchoalveolar lavage, were labeled with tritiated arachidonic acid. The cells were stimulated with calcium ionophore A23187, and the radiolabeled arachidonic acid metabolites that were released were identified by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Leukotriene B4 and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid were consistently observed. The lipoxygenase inhibitor, nordihydroguaiaretic acid, blocked production of these metabolites. The cyclooxygenase products, prostaglandin F2 alpha and thromboxane B2, were observed infrequently in comparison with leukotriene B4 and 5-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid.