[Release of platelet activating factor (P.A.F.-acether) by isolated perfused rat kidney]

Platelet-activating factor (a 1-0-alkyl-2-acetyl glyceryl-3-phosphorylcholine, P.A.F.-acether) causes the aggregation of platelets from various Mammalian species and the release of their granule content. P.A.F.-acether activity has been recovered in vitro from perfused isolated Rat kidneys, stimulated by the ionophore A 23187. The maximum release was reached 10 min. after addition of the ionophore. P.A.F.-acether from kidney exhibited the same physico-chemical and biological characteristics as P.A.F.-acether from leucocytes. These data demonstrate that the kidney secretes a mediator of immediate hypersensitivity (P.A.F.-acether) in the veinous vasculature. Therefore the kidney itself has the ability of inducing intravascular platelet aggregation with subsequent local increase in vasopermeability.