Abstract
This study investigates the chemical synthesis and physiological activities of leukotoxin (9: 10-epoxy-12-octadecenoic acid), a toxic substance known to occur naturally in polymorphonuclear leukocytes. The leukotoxin used in this study was synthesized from linoleic acid with peracetic acid and was separated from the side product of this synthesis (an isomer of leukotoxin, 12: 13-epoxy-9-octadecenoic acid) by thin layer chromatography and high performance liquid chromatography. The chemical structure of the leukotoxin was confirmed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. In order to examine the physiological effects of leukotoxin, this fatty acid was injected into guinea pigs. The leukotoxin initially increased blood pressure and eventually caused cardiac arrest. The results of this preliminary study indicate that leukotoxin synthesized via the above method is physiologically active and can be used for experiments investigating toxic and/or physiological effects of leukotoxin.
