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

We have evaluated the effects of 17 beta-estradiol and 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol on prostacyclin production (measured as prostaglandin-6-keto-F1 alpha) 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(-8) M) for up to 72h. 17 beta-estradiol did not affect basal 6-keto-PGF1 alpha production in these cell cultures. With 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol the synthesis of 6-keto-PGF1 alpha 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 alpha production. This does, of course not rule out an effect in the more complex in vivo-situation.