AJP - Heart and Circulatory Physiology, Vol 253, Issue 5 1177-H1183, Copyright © 1987 by American Physiological Society
Polarity of arachidonic acid metabolism by bovine aortic endothelial cell monolayers
D. M. Shasby, L. L. Stoll and A. A. Spector
Department of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City.
Monolayers of bovine aortic endothelial cells cultured on micropore filters
were used to determine the polarity of endothelial uptake, release, and
transfer of arachidonic acid and some of its metabolites. Uptake and
spontaneous release of arachidonic acid were more rapid at the luminal than
at the interstitial surface. Transfer of arachidonic acid was more rapid
from the luminal to the interstitial compartment than from the interstitial
to the luminal compartment. After stimulation with the ionophore A23187,
monolayers released arachidonate metabolites, including prostacyclin, to
both the luminal and the interstitial compartments. The ability of the
endothelium to rapidly take up and release arachidonic acid from the
luminal surface and the ability to release biologically active eicosanoids
to both the lumen and interstitium could be important for endothelial
modulation of vascular events.
