The mechanism of macromolecule uptake by cultured mesangial cells was studied by use of transmission electron microscopy. In parallel, we investigated the effect of macromolecular uptake on prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) formation. Cultured rat mesangial cells were studied in their third passage. As model molecules, we used colloidal gold particles (10 nm diameter) coated either with polyethylene glycol (PEG) or fresh serum (SCG). Mesangial cells were incubated from 1 to 60 min and up to 12 h with either PEG or SCG particles. Endocytosis of SCG significantly exceeded that of PEG particles. The mechanism involved binding to coated pits, followed by formation of coated vesicles (endosomes), and eventually delivery of particles to lysosomes. Pretreatment with cytochalasin B virtually prevented endocytosis of SCG particles, indicating active participation of the cytoskeleton. Determination of PGE2 production in parallel showed that SCG significantly stimulated PGE2 synthesis within minutes, whereas PEG-coated gold had no effect. When gold particles were coated with decomplemented serum instead of fresh serum, the stimulation of PGE2 was partially, but not completely, prevented, indicating that complement may be one, but not the only ligand responsible for enhanced PGE2 production. Stimulation of PGE2 synthesis by SCG was not dependent on actual endocytosis, as it was not altered by cytochalasin B pretreatment. Thus, surface ligand-receptor interaction may be sufficient to trigger PGE2 synthesis. The interaction between mesangial endocytosis and PGE2 production may be important for glomerular pathophysiology.