The leukotrienes : action on lung parenchymal strips and the formation by macrophages

In this thesis the history, biosynthetic pathways and biological activities of leukotrienes is being reviewed. Their contractile effects on lung parenchymal strips and their formation by macrophages are investigated. In addition the action of specific synthesis inhibitors is determined. These two approaches were chosen , firstly to investigate the mechanism of action of these potent bronchoconstrictive agents and secondly to determine the capacity of cells to generate the whole cascade of arachidonic acid products, to which leukotrienes belong. Leukotrienes belong to the so-called eicosanoids , which also comprise the group of prostaglandins and mono-hydroxy eicosatetraenoic acids. The results presented in chapters 3 and 4, show that the three main groups of eicosanoids have different biological effects and are able to interact with each other.