PLATELET-ACTIVATING-FACTOR POTENTIATES RAT PAW EDEMA INDUCED BY DIFFERENT PHLOGOGEN AGENTS

Carrageenin oedema is enhanced by the simultaneous injection in the ra t paw of platelet activating factor (PAF). The enhancement of carragee nin oedema is observed throughout the time course of the experiments. This enhancement is also present when the oedema-producing agent is de xtran, cellulose sulphate, histamine, 5-hydroxytryptamine, bradykinin or prostaglandin E(2). Both verapamil and BN 52021 abolished the enhan cement induced by PAF without modifying significantly carrageenin oede ma. In essential fatty acid deficient (EFAD) rats depleted of kininoge n and amines, carrageenin oedema is not modified by PAF. These finding s suggest that PAF interacts with other inflammatory mediators regulat ing the formation of oedema induced by irritants injected locally.