Superoxide Anion Generation during Airway Anaphylaxis

Abstract

Extracellular release of superoxide anion (O-2) during in vitro anaphylaxis in guinea pig trachealis was found to exhibit both a time- and a concentration-dependent generation of O-2. Trachealis O-2 release was unaffected by treatment with diphenhydramine HCl (10(-5) M, 10(-6) M). While indomethacin (10(-5) M) augmented anaphylaxis tension it did not enhance O-2 release. However, the semiselective SRS-A antagonist FPL 55712 (10(-5) M) resulted in essentially complete inhibition of O-2 generation. These data indicate that O-2 generation occurring during acute airway anaphylaxis is associated with the activation of SRS-A products.