Generation of Leukotrienes from Fetal and Neonatal Porcine Blood Vessels

Abstract
Various blood vessels from fetal and neonatal piglets were challenged with calcium ionophore A23187, to examine the release of leukotriene-like material. All tissues released as much or more leukotriene (LT) than adult porcine tissues previously examined. The release fell with increasing gestational age. The release from the intra-abdominal umbilical vein at 11 days preterm (480 ng of LTD4-like activity per gram of tissue) was an order of magnitude higher than that previously observed. The implications with regard to control of the fetal circulatory pattern are discussed.