Calcium dependent aggregation of marine sponge cells is provoked by leukotriene B4 and inhibited by inhibitors of arachidonic acid oxidation.

Dissociated cells of the marine sponge, Microciona prolifera, aggregate in response to a species-specific aggregation factor (MAF) and Ca ionophores. We now report that leukotriene B4, a 5-lipoxygenase product, also causes aggregation of sponge cells. No other lipoxygenase products provoked aggregation. However, nordihydroguaiaretic acid (NDGA), colchicine, indomethacin, piroxicam and ibuprofen inhibited MAF-induced aggregation; the latter three agents inhibited Ca movements. Inhibition of prostaglandin release cannot be the mechanism whereby these agents inhibit aggregation of sponge cells, since the cells do not respond to exogenous cyclooxygenase products.