Effect of serum proteins from normal and turpentine-treated rats on prostaglandin synthesis by peritoneal cells.

The influence of serum from normal and turpentine-treated rats on prostaglandin synthesis by peritoneal cells has been investigated. Both types of serum had the same inhibitory effect on the formation of myostimulating prostaglandin-like substances and of 14C-PGE2 by rat peritoneal cells in the presence of 82 or 100 mumol of arachidonic acid. On guinea-pig peritoneal cells, the serum from turpentine-treated rats had a smaller inhibitory effect than normal serum on 14C-PGE2 and 14C-HETE formation from 2 mumol of arachidonic acid. Thus the acute inflammatory reaction produced by turpentine did not increase the inhibitory effect of rat serum on prostaglandin synthesis. It is suggested that the anti-inflammatory effect of counter irritation by turpentine does not depend on prostaglandin synthesis inhibition but has to be attributed to some other mechanisms.