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Cocaine affects prostaglandin production in human umbilical cord cell cultures

2003; Informa; Volume: 14; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1080/jmf.14.4.261.266

1476-7058

Dimitrios Mastrogiannis, William F. O’Brien,

Anesthesia and Pain Management

Objective: To investigate the possible effects of cocaine on prostacyclin and prostaglandin (PG) E2 production from endothelial cells derived from human umbilical cord. Study design: First-passaged endothelial cells derived from the umbilical vein were incubated with various doses of cocaine, procaine and lidocaine and 24 h later the supernatants were assayed for prostacyclin metabolites 6-keto-PGF1α and PGE2. Cocaine concentrations tested were 0, 10, 100, 500 and 1000 μg/ml. Results: Cocaine produced a dose-dependent reduction in prostacyclin and PGE2 production from endothelial cells (p < 0.05). Acetylcholinesterase (a possible detoxifier of cocaine) abolished the effect of cocaine on prostacyclin production. Procaine, an esterol-type anesthetic, produced a similar effect on prostacyclin production, an effect not observed with lidocaine. Conclusion: It is speculated that, when present in high concentrations, cocaine may affect vascular tone by inhibition of endothelial cell prostacyclin and PGE2 release.