This report examines the effect of cell volume expansion on cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) mRNA expression, COX-2 protein expression, and prostaglandin E2 release from human amnion-derived WISH cells. Earle's balanced salts solution (EBSS) with limited NaCl concentration was utilized as the induction medium. COX-2 mRNA was elevated 6-fold in cells incubated for 1 h in hypotonic EBSS. COX-2 mRNA expression was not increased when raffinose or sucrose were used to reconstitute low NaCl. Actinomycin D blocked COX-2 mRNA increase by hypotonic stress, while cycloheximide enhanced COX-2 mRNA expression. COX-2 mRNA and protein concentrations increased as a function of decreasing media osmolarity and incubation time in hypotonic EBSS. Hypotonic EBSS induced a 3-fold increase in prostaglandin E2 release. WISH cells transiently transfected with a luciferase expression vector driven by the human COX-2 promoter for the COX-2 gene show a 3-fold increase in luciferase activity when incubated in hypotonic EBSS. COX-2 mRNA levels in primary human amnion cells were also increased by hypotonic stress. This study suggests that amnion cell COX-2 gene expression is regulated by cell volume expansion and/or increased plasma membrane tension.