LEUKOTRIENES ARE ACTIVE IN THE ROSETTE INHIBITION ASSAY MIMICKING THE ACTION OF EARLY-PREGNANCY FACTOR

Lipoxygenase metabolites have been found to be active in the rosette inhibition assay by inducing increased rosette inhibition titres. Leukotrienes B4, C4, D4 and E4 were identified as possessing this activity. The cycloxygenase products, prostaglandins E2, D2 and F2α had no such activity; however, prostaglandin E2 and to a lesser degree prostaglandin D2 could counteract the activity of the leukotrienes in this assay. The identified leukotrienes are the first characterised molecules known to display activity in the assay. In this respect they mimic the action of early pregnancy serum, an action ascribed to a so called 'early pregnancy factor'. © 1990.