Minimal effect of estrogens on endothelial cell growth and production of prostacyclin.

The effects of natural and synthetic sex hormones (10(-8)M) have been studied on human umbilical endothelial cell proliferation and prostacyclin production. 17 B estradiol and progesterone had no effect on cell multiplication. Ethinyl-estradiol increased proliferation when the initial plating density was 40,000 cells/cm2. However, the production of 6-keto PGF1 alpha induced by the Ca++ ionophore A 23187 was not different between control, 17 B estradiol-or ethinyl estradiol-treated cultures. These results demonstrate an in vitro effect of synthetic estrogen, ethinyl estradiol on endothelial cell proliferation. At the present time it is however difficult to correlate these results with the clinical observation of an increase in thromboembolic complications in women under oral contraceptives.