Effects of naftidrofuryl on the contraction and proliferation of cultured myocytes evoked by serotonin.

We investigated the effects of 2-(diethylamino)-ethyl-tetrahydro-alpha-(l-naphthylmethyl)-2-furanpro pionate (naftidrofuryl) on both the contraction and the proliferation of cultured rat aortic myocytes elicited by serotonin. Cells were cultured under controlled conditions, both on microcarrier beads and in microwells. The results show that naftidrofuryl alone had no effect on the properties of vascular smooth muscle cells. However, in the presence of serotonin, naftidrofuryl inhibits the contraction and the proliferation of smooth muscle cells.