Changes of leukotrienes in rabbits subjected to tourniquet shock.

Rabbits were used as a traumatic shock model, and the right femoral root was fastened tightly with a tourniquet for human children for 24 hours. The amounts of LTB4, LTD4 and LTE4 in the blood and muscle were measured just before unfastening and 3, 6 and 12 hours after unfastening. After unfastening, the rabbits showed a gradual decline of blood pressure, and one died 7 hours after unfastening. LTB4 levels in the blood and muscle were within the levels of the control rabbits throughout the experimental period. On the contrary, LTD4 levels in the blood increased just before and 6 and 12 hours after unfastening. LTD4 levels in the muscle also increased at the fastened site just before and 3 and 6 hours after unfastening. LTE4 levels in the blood increased 3 hours, and those in the muscle 3 and 6 hours after unfastening. These results suggest that peptide leukotrienes may contribute to the pathogenesis of traumatic shock.