[Influence of homologous serum on endothelial cell growth factor withdrawal]

In examined the influence of endothelial cell growth factor (ECGF) withdrawal upon the growth and PGI2 production of human endothelial cells (HECs) maintained in either fetal bovine serum (FBS) or human serum (HS). For the study of growth, enzymatically harvested cells were passed twice, divided into seven groups and maintained in medium containing 20% FBS with ECGF (0, 0.1, 1, 10, 100 micrograms/ml) or 20% HS with ECGF (0, 100 micrograms/ml) (n = 8). Growth curve was generated from daily cell counts for ten days. Cells were dead in medium containing FBS with ECGF in concentration of 1 micrograms/ml or less, however, cells were sustained and grew in HS without ECGF. For the study of PGI2 production, harvested HECs were divided into 2 groups and cultured in medium containing 20% FBS or HS (ECGF: 100 micrograms/ml) (n = 12). Second passage cells were divided into 3 groups respectively and cultured in different ECGF concentration (0, 1, 100 micrograms/ml) for 48 hours. Cells were stimulated with thrombin(2U/ml) and PGI2 production was measured by radioimmunoassay. Cells cultured in medium containing HS produced more amount of PGI2 than in FBS in any concentration of BCGF (19 +/- 11 pg/10(5) cells in FBS v.s. 89 +/- 80 pg/10(5) cells in HS: p < 0.05, ECGF: 100 micrograms/ml) Second passage HECs cultured in medium containing HS were viable and maintained the ability of PGI2 production even without ECGF.