Cyclooxygenase products of metabolism of arachidonic acid in mouse macrophages exposed to N-phenyllinoleamide from toxic oil samples

N-phenyllinoleamide (NPLA), one of the major extraneous constituents of Spanish toxic oil samples, appears to enhance the cyclooxygenase metabolic pathway of arachidonic acid by peritoneal mouse macrophages. Results reported herein show an increased biosynthesis of 6-oxo-PGF1 alpha and TXB2 by macrophages exposed to NPLA. However, light and electron microscopy failed to show cellular alterations in macrophages incubated with NPLA for two hours at 27 degrees C. These data suggest a possible involvement of cyclooxygenase arachidonic acid metabolism in the etiopathogenesis of the Spanish Toxic Oil Syndrome.