[The influence of hypoxia on the proliferation of endothelial cells originating from human umbilical vein (HUVEC)--an in vitro study].

In this study we took for culture the early-passage human umbilical vein endothelial cells during 12, 24 and 36 hours of hypoxia. To assess the relative contributions of hypoxia, we compared the rates of BrDU incorporation into DNA of proliferating endothelial cells under normoxix and hypoxic conditions. Significant differences in proliferation rates were found only between 24 hours hypoxic group and the control group. Our results support the hypothesis that increased proliferation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells may reflect an adaptation of fetoplacental circulation to hypoxic conditions.