Endothelin-1 induces neutrophil-independent vascular injury in the rat gastric microcirculation.

Local intra-arterial infusion of picomole quantities of endothelin-1 induced gastric vascular leakage of radiolabelled albumin. This leakage was partially inhibited by the platelet activating factor (PAF) receptor antagonist WEB 2086 (0.5-2 mg kg-1), but was unaffected by the thromboxane synthase inhibitor OKY 1581 (5 mg kg-1) or by pretreatment with anti-neutrophil serum. These results indicate a partial role of PAF, but demonstrate that neutrophils are not involved in the gastric vascular dysfunction induced by locally administered endothelin-1.