Previous studies in our laboratory have demonstrated that photodynamic therapy (PDT) of experimental bladder tumors leads to rapid destruction of the endothelial lining within the tumor microvasculature. Endothelial cell death during PDT may be a consequence of direct cell injury resulting from retention of photosensitizer within the endothelial cell or, alternatively, result from intravascular activation of circulating photosensitizer with subsequent indirect endothelial damage. In the experiments described here, we investigated the possibility that photosensitizer retained within the endothelial cell was sufficient to cause endothelial cell injury in the absence of circulating drug. The experimental model was rat aorta photosensitized in vivo via the intravenous injection of tin(II) etiopurpurin dichloride (SnET2), and subsequent in situ or in vitro (in explant culture) light (670 nm) treatment from an argon pumped dye laser. Damage to the lining of the aorta was assessed morphometrically by determining the areal density of silver stained endothelial cells. Results indicate that purpurin SnET2-PDT directly damages the endothelial lining.