AGING DECREASES THE PRODUCTION OF PGI(2) IN RAT AORTIC ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS

It has been suggested that progressive pathophysiologic modifications of endothelium are associated with aging. Aging has been shown to infl uence some specific functions at the cellular level. In the present st udy, the effects of aging on levels of prostacyclin (PGI(2)) productio n were examined in cultured rat aortic endothelial cells from young (s ix-week-old) and old (100-week-old) Wistar rats. The level of PGI(2) p roduction from rat aortic endothelial cells decreased significantly wi th increasing age, suggesting decreased function of the endothelial ce lls. The production of PGI(2) stimulated by thrombin was decreased in old rat aortic endothelial cells compared to young rat aortic endothel ial cells, whereas there was no difference in the rate of intracellula r calcium mobilization caused by thrombin. These data indicate that ag ing nonuniformly affects both basal and agonist-induced levels of PGI( 2) production in rat aortic endothelial cells, and that this diminutio n in PGI(2) production may be related to the age-related potentiation of various thrombotic events. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Inc.