Effects of manidipine hydrochloride on proliferation and glycosaminoglycan synthesis of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.

The effects of manidipine hydrochloride, a calcium channel blocker, on the proliferation and the synthesis of glycosaminoglycans (GAG) in cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) were studied. Mandipine hydrochloride suppressed the DNA synthesis of VSMC dose dependently at concentrations of more than 10(-8) M. Mandipine hydrochloride 10(-6) M suppressed proliferation of VSMC to 50% of the control value. Manidipine hydrochloride stimulated the synthesis of GAG at concentrations above 10(-11) M. Manidipine hydrochloride 10(-8) M stimulated synthesis of GAG to 450% of control. Our findings suggest that because mandipine hydrochloride suppresses proliferation and stimulates GAG synthesis of VSMC, it may be an anti-arteriosclerotic agent.