The uptake of 5-hydroxytryptamine in endothelial cells cultured from the pulmonary artery in rats. A cytochemical study.

Endothelial cells from the rat pulmonary artery were cultured and identified ultrastructurally and immunocytochemically by the presence of factor VIII antigens. Monolayers of cultured cells were treated according to the Hillarp-Falck technique and studied cytofluorimetrically to estimate intracellular serotonin (5-HT) levels. An uptake of 5-HT from the incubation medium was demonstrated at a concentration of 10(-3) M. However, after inhibition of monoamine oxidase (nalamide 5 X 10(-4) M) to prevent intracellular degradation of the amine an uptake could be demonstrated at 10(-5) M. The amine uptake into endothelial cells utilizes an active pumpmechanism, since it was effectively antagonized by either imipramine (10(-4) M) or ouabain (10(-5) M). These in vitro findings contrast earlier cytofluorimetric in vivo studies, where 5-HT uptake predominantly occurred in interstitial mast cells.