The American journal of physiology
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The overall objective of this study was to determine whether leukocyte adherence and/or emigration is a prerequisite for the increased vascular protein leakage associated with acute inflammation. An in vivo preparation was used to monitor intestinal vascular protein leakage as well as polymorphonuclear leukocyte (PMN) adhesion and emigration in feline mesenteric microvessels exposed to platelet-activating factor (PAF) and leukotriene B4 (LTB4). Local intra-arterial infusion of PAF (4 ng/min) produced a fourfold increase in vascular protein leakage. ⋯ Both PAF and LTB4 caused degranulation of cat PMNs in vitro, yet superoxide production was stimulated by PAF only. The data derived from these in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that leukocyte adhesion per se does not necessarily lead to increased vascular protein leakage and leukocyte emigration. Adhesion-dependent PMN functions such as emigration and superoxide production may play an important role in producing the alterations in vascular integrity observed in inflamed microvessels.