Hypoxia increases endothelin release in bovine endothelial cells in culture, but epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, histamine and angiotensin II do not

Abstract

Calf coronary artery endothelial cells in culture were exposed to normoxic and hypoxic conditions (2% oxygen) for 4hr and 24 hr. After 24 hr of incubation, there was a significant increase in the accumulation of immuno-reactive endothelin (irET) in the media. Incubations with epinephrine, norepinephrine, serotonin, histamine and angiotensin II did not result in an increase in irET production. These studies indicate that hypoxia enhances endothelin release, however, the kinetics of this release suggest that the acute endothelium-dependent vasconstriction occuring after hypoxia does not result from an increase in endothelin release.