Effects of PAF-acether and structural analogues on platelet activation and bronchoconstriction in guinea-pigs

PAF-acether (platelet-activating factor) (1-O-alkyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol-3-phosphorylcholine) induces platelet-dependent bronchoconstriction in the guinea-pig which correlates with its in vivo thrombocytopenic effect. We investigated the influence of modifications of the polar head group in position 3 of the glycerol skeleton of PAF-acether on guinea-pig platelet activation and bronchoconstriction. PAF-acether itself induced concentration-dependent platelet activation (EC50 for aggregation = 0.41 nM and EC20 for secretion of ATP = 0.56 nM). The 3-phosphoryl-N-methyl-morpholino ethanol analogue was slightly more active than PAF-acether and the 3-phosphoryl-N-methyl-piperidinium ethanol, 3-phopshoryl-(N-methyl-piperidino-3') methanol and 3-phosphoryl-(N-methyl-hydroxy-4') piperidine analogues were equieffective to PAF-acether in activating platelets. The 3-phosphoryl-piperidino ethanol analogue was 8 times less active than PAF-acether; the 3-phosphoryl-morpholino ethanol analogue and the 1-O-octadecyl-2-O-acetyl-3-O-[trimethyl-ammonio)-propyl) glycerol were inactive up to 1 microM. Our data show that the choline head group is not a compulsory requirement for activity. When injected i.v. to the propranolol-treated guinea-pigs, the platelet-activating analogues also induced bronchoconstriction. Two PAF-acether antagonists, compounds 48740 RP and BN 52021, inhibited PAF-acether-induced platelet activation when added to PRP at the final concentration of 0.1 mM (aggregation inhibited by 91 +/- 4 and by 94 +/- 3% respect.; secretion inhibited by 80 +/- 12 and 79 +/- 10% respectively, mean +/- S.E.M., n = 4). Both antagonists also suppressed platelet activation and in vivo bronchoconstriction, thrombocytopenia, leukopenia and hypotension induced by PAF-acether and the various analogues. Our results indicate that PAF-acether and the analogues studied trigger platelet activation and the consequent bronchoconstriction through mechanisms which share sensitivity to same antagonists.