Effect of Piriprost, a 5-lipoxygenase inhibitor, on leukocyte accumulation during thioglycollate-induced acute inflammation.

We evaluated the effect of a prototype 5-lipoxygenase enzyme inhibitor, Piriprost [6,9-deepoxy-6,9-(phenylimino-)delta 6,8-prostaglandin I1], on the leukocyte accumulation induced by intraperitoneal injection of thioglycollate in rats. Piriprost, at 40 mg/kg, i.p., inhibited leukocyte accumulation by 34 +/- 12% (mean +/- S.D., n = 9). With experimental groups containing small numbers of rats (6 to 9) inhibition was statistically significant in 7 of 9 cases. Piriprost shared this property with dexamethasone; however, dexamethasone at 5 mg/kg, p.o., inhibited leukocyte accumulation to a greater extent, 61 +/- 6% (mean +/- S.D., n = 5) and the inhibition was statistically significant in 5 of 5 cases. Conventional non-steroidal antiinflammatory agents including aspirin and phenylbutazone were ineffective in our model. Our results suggest that certain compounds that inhibit the 5-lipoxygenase enzyme, without inhibiting the cyclooxygenase enzyme, can reduce the leukocyte accumulation associated with acute inflammation.