Pharmacological modulation of edema mediated by prostaglandin, serotonin and histamine.

Previous studies demonstrated that the formamidine pesticide chlordimeform (CDM) reversibly inhibited prostaglandin biosynthesis and prevented the late (PG-mediated) phase of carrageenin-induced hind paw edema. This study emphasizes antagonism by CDM of the early (5HT and histamine-mediated) phase of carrageenin edema. CDM and cyproheptadine both antagonized paw edema induced by albumin (5HT and histamine-mediated) and by the direct injection of 5HT and histamine, whereas aspirin and the PG antagonist, SC-19220, were ineffective. As expected, cyproheptadine selectively reduced the early phase, whereas aspirin and SC-19220 selectively reduced the late phase of carrageenin-induced edema. These results are thus consistent with earlier studies demonstrating PG mediation of the late phase of carrageenin edema, and 5HT and histamine mediation of albumin edema and the early phase of carrageenin edema. In addition, they indicate that CDM possesses multiple acute anti-inflammatory actions not exhibited by aspirin, by SC-19220 or by cyproheptadine alone.