Differential effects of sex steroids on prostaglandin secretion by male and female cultured piglet endothelial cells.

The effect of sex steroids, 17 beta-estradiol and testosterone, on the production of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, prostaglandin F2 alpha and prostaglandin E2 was studied in cultures of piglet aorta endothelial cells. In cells isolated from female animals both steroids stimulated the secretion of prostaglandins. In contrast, sex steroids did not affect prostaglandin synthesis by endothelial cells taken from male animals. In addition, female endothelial cells convert testosterone into estriol, estrone and estradiol. Estradiol-induced stimulation of prostacyclin production may explain in part the beneficial role generally attributed to naturally occurring estrogens in cardiovascular diseases.