Thrombin-induced shape changes of cultured endothelial cells: metabolic and functional observations.

Cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (EC) incubated in the presence of 2-deoxy-D-glucose (20 mmol/l) or at 4 degrees C lost their ability to undergo shape changes when exposed to thrombin (1 N.I.H. u/ml). Drugs blocking Ca++-flux (verapamil and nifedipin), microfilament disrupting agents (cytochalasin B and D) and microtubule disrupting agents (colchicine and colcemid) did not prevent thrombin-induced shape changes. None of the agents tested inhibited the accelerated thrombin-induced 51Cr-release from the cells. Pretreatment of EC with thrombin did not influence their ability to mediate clot retraction.