Arachidonate metabolite(s) increase the permeability of the plasma membrane of the neutrophils to calcium

The relationship between arachidonate metabolism and stimulated calcium fluxes in rabbit peritoneal neutrophils has been investigated. The addition of arachidonate to the neutrophils was found to cause a rapid and significant increase in the permeability of the plasma membrane to calcium. This effect is specific to calcium, concentration dependent and sensitive to inhibitors of the lipoxygenase mediated metabolic pathway(s). These results strongly suggest that arachidonate metabolites are directly involved in the mechanisms underlying calcium gating in the neutrophils.