Final answer:
Chemical mediators such as cytokines, histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes act within minutes of the inflammatory response and play a critical role in the initial stages of inflammation.
Step-by-step explanation:
Chemical mediators of inflammation act within minutes of the inflammatory response and play a critical role in the initial stages of inflammation. Some of the early chemical mediators include cytokines, histamine, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes.
These mediators are released by injured or infected cells and trigger vasodilation, increased vascular permeability, and recruitment of white blood cells to the site of inflammation.
For example, histamine increases the diameter of local blood vessels, causing an increase in blood flow and increased permeability of capillaries, leading to swelling. Prostaglandins cause vasodilation and are a major cause of the pain associated with inflammation.