Leukotriene formation by bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes.

The leukotriene production by bovine polymorphonuclear leukocytes isolated from peripheral blood has been studied. Cells were incubated in the presence of arachidonic acid, glutathione, calcium ionophore A23187 and Ca2+. The leukotrienes then formed are leukotriene C4, leukotriene B4, two all-trans isomers of leukotriene B4 and the double dioxygenation product 12-epi-6-trans-8-cis-leukotriene B4. Leukotriene C4 is formed in such a large quantity by the bovine polymorphonuclear leukocyte that it might constitute an excellent and inexpensive source for the biosynthetic preparation of this spasmogenic leukotriene.