Airway Response to Leukotriene D4 in Rhesus Monkeys

Abstract
We studied the effect of leukotriene D4 (LTD4) given by aerosol challenge on asthmatic and normal monkeys. The response to LTD4 occurred within 2 min., was prolonged at higher concentrations, was reversed by epinephrine, and more closely resembled an antigen response than a histamine response. Since LTD4 concentrations of 30–100 μg/ml produced a response similar to 2–20 mg/ml of histamine, the LTD4 was 300–900 times as potent as histamine on a molar basis. Thus, LTD4, which appears to reproduce an antigen-induced response in rhesus monkeys, may be a mediator of allergic asthma in these animals.

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