FIG. 5.

5-LO and cysteinyl leukotrienes are involved in E. coli K1 penetration into the brain. Bacterial counts in blood (CFU per milliliter) (A), brain (CFU per gram) (B), and kidney and spleen (CFU per gram) (D) were determined 1 h after intravenous injection of E. coli K1 strain RS218. (B and C) E. coli K1 penetration into the brain was significantly less in 5-LO knockout mice (KO) than that in the wild-type mice (WT). MK571 significantly inhibited E. coli penetration into the brains of the wild-type mice. Data shown are means ± SEM. *, P < 0.05 (comparison between WT [n = 7] and WT plus MK571 [n = 5] or KO [n = 7]).