Inflammatory effects of acetylglycerylether phosphorylcholine: vascular permeability increase and induction of pleurisy in rats.

AGEPC-induced vascular permeability increase in the skins of rats, guinea pigs and rabbits was assessed by the leaked dye method, in which the dye was extracted from the skin sites injected with AGEPC after intravenous injection of pontamine sky blue. The activity was the most potent in the dorsal skin of rats and followed by guinea pigs and then rabbits. The vascular effect in rat skin was not affected by pretreatment with mepyramine and methysergide, but partially reduced by indomethacin and significantly suppressed by dexamethasone. Synergism was observed between AGEPC and bradykinin, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, PGE1, PGI2 or PGD2, when each agent was simultaneously injected with AGEPC into the skin. Pleurisy was induced by intrapleural injection of 1 ug of AGEPC into rats. Pleural fluid accumulation and leukocytes migration were observed. The exudate volume was not suppressed by pretreatment with indomethacin but significantly reduced by intravenous injection of CV-3988, a novel antagonist of AGEPC.