The pharmacology of N-methyl LTC4; a metabolically stable LTC4-mimetic

N-methyl LTC4 (NMLTC4) a synthetic analogue of LTC4, has been shown not to be a substrate for gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase. NMLTC4 produced contractions of the guinea pig ileum and trachea with pD2 values of 7.7 +/- 0.12 (n = 6) and 8.1 +/- 0.1 (n = 6) respectively, compared with values of 9.0 +/- 0.1 (n = 5) and 8.0 +/- 0.2 (n = 6) for LTC4. The concentration-response curve to LTC4 and NMLTC4 on ileum was displaced to the right by FPL55712. The corresponding pA2 values were 6.3 +/- 0.3 (n = 10) for LTC4 and 5.7 +/- 0.2 (n = 6) for NMLTC4. In the presence of acivicin, a gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase inhibitor, the LTC4 concentration-response curve on trachea was displaced to the left, but the NMLTC4 curve was unaffected. The comparative potencies in the presence of acivicin on trachea indicate that LTC4 is approximately 6 times more potent than NMLTC4 whereas on ileum, in the presence of FPL55712 LTC4 is approximately 14 times more potent. In-vivo NMLTC4 is a weak bronchoconstrictor substance being 20-30 less potent than LTC4. However, unlike the in-vitro studies the bronchospasm was significantly reduced by pretreatment with LTD4 antagonists. NMLTC4 administered intravenously produced a pronounced hypertensive effect which appeared to be due to peripheral vasoconstriction.