Prostacyclin production by the bovine aortic smooth muscle

It is well known that cultured aortic smooth muscle cells, the phenotype of which has modulated from contractile to synthetic, are able to release prostacyclin (PGI₂). We have studied the release of PGI₂ from cultured explants of bovine aortic media, which represent an homogeneous population of smooth muscle cells with a contractile phenotype. These explants released spontaneously huge amounts of PGI₂, which was the major eicosanoid produced. PGI₂ release was stimulated by serum and by serotonin. This experimental model seems useful to evaluate the contribution of smooth muscle to the biosynthesis of PGI₂ by the arterial wall.