NATURAL AND SYNTHETIC ESTROGENS AND PROSTACYCLIN PRODUCTION IN HUMAN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS FROM UMBILICAL-CORD AND LEG VEINS

We have evaluated the effects of 17beta-estradiol and 17alpha-ethinyle stradiol on prostacyclin production (measured as prostaglandin-6-keto- F1alpha) in human endothelial cell cultures that had been obtained fro m umbilical cord and from leg veins. Endothelial cultures were treated with the estrogens at 3 different concentrations (10(-6), 10(-7), 10( -8)M) for up to 72h. 17beta-estradiol did not affect basal 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production in these cell cultures. With 17alpha-ethinylestradiol the synthesis of 6-keto-PGF1alpha was not statistically significant c hanged. At least in our in vitro system we could not find an effect of natural and synthetic estrogens on 6-keto-PGF1alpha production. This does , of course not rule out an effect in the more complex in vivo si tuation.