Possible involvement of cyclooxygenase products in the actions of platelet-activating factor and of lipoxygenase products in the vascular effects of epinephrine in perfused rat liver.

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) stimulates glycogenolysis and induces vasoconstriction in perfused rat liver. The effect of PAF was rapid but transient and it was blocked by indomethacin and bromophenacyl bromide which suggests a role of cyclooxygenase metabolites in its action. The homologous desensitization of glycogenolysis produced by PAF and the sensitivity of its actions to inhibitors of cyclooxygenase and phospholipase A2 markedly differentiate the mechanism of action of this agent with that of alpha 1-adrenergic agents, vasopressin or angiotensin II. No effect of PAF in isolated hepatocytes was observed which suggest that cells other than hepatocytes could be involved in its action in perfused liver. In addition nordihydroguaiaretic acid and bromophenacyl bromide abolished the vascular effect (but not the glycogenolysis) produced by epinephrine which suggest a role for lipoxygenase products in this effect.