Stimulation of prostaglandin biosynthesis by vasoactive substances in methylcholanthrene-transformed mouse BALB/3T3

Prostaglandins E2 and F2alpha are present in the culture medium of methylcholanthrene-transformed mouse BALB/3T3 cells. The production of these prostaglandins is stimulated when the cells are incubated in the presence of serum, arachidonic acid, thrombin, and bradykinin, or if they are mechanically manipulated. Whereas the appearance of prostaglandins resulting from the latter four treatments is complete in several minutes, in the presence of serum the prostaglandin levels are still increasing ever after 2 hours. Stimulation by all of these treatments is additive. Indomethacin inhibits these stimulations, suggesting that the production of prostaglandins results from de novo biosynthesis.