[Inhibitory effects of m-nifedipine on angiotensin II stimulated proliferation and protein synthesis in cultured rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells].

By using rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in culture as a model, the effects of m-nifedipine (m-Nif) on the growth of VSMC were observed. The results showed that m-Nif inhibited [3H]-thymidine and [3H]-leucine incorporation into DNA and protein, decreased cell number in a concentration-dependent manner in angiotensin II (ANG II) induced VSMC. At the concentration of 2 mumol.L-1, m-Nif was found to reduce the ANG II (100 nmol.L-1) stimulated [3H]-thymidine, [3H]-leucine incorporation and cell number by 46%, 58% and 53%, respectively. Our results suggest that m-Nif can inhibit ANG II stimulated proliferation and protein synthesis in cultured rabbit aortic VSMC.