Natural and synthetic estrogens and prostacyclin production in human endothelial cells from umbilical cord and leg veins

Abstract

We have evaluated the effects of 17 β-estradiol and 17 α-ethinylestradiol on prostacyclin production (measured as prostaglandin-6-keto- F1 α ) in human endothelial cell cultures that had been obtained from umbilical cord and from leg veins. Endothelial cultures were treated with the estrogens at 3 different concentrations (10 −6, 10 −7, 10 −8M) for up to 72h. 17 β-estradiol did not affect basal 6-keto- PGF1 α production in these cell cultures. With 17 α-ethinylestradiol the synthesis of 6-keto- PGF1 α was not statistically significant changed. At least in our in vitro system we could not find an effect of natural and synthetic estrogens on 6-keto- PGF1 α production. This does, of course not rule out an effect in the more complex in vivo-situation.