Prostaglandin production by homogeneous cultures of rat glomerular epithelial and mesangial cells.

Prostaglandin production was measured in homogeneous cultures that had been characterized as glomerular epithelial and mesangial cells. Glomerular epithelial cells produced ten times more cyclooxygenase products than mesangial cells; 88 to 95% of its products were prostacyclin. Mesangial cells produced predominantly prostaglandin E2 (57 to 66%); only 14 to 15% of the prostaglandins produced by mesangial cells was PGI2. Cultured glomerular epithelial and mesangial cells produced little prostaglandin D2, thromboxane, 12-L-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid, or 6-sulfido-peptide-containing leukotrienes.