Inhibitory effect of trapidil on proliferation of cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells induced by endothelin-1

AIM: To study the effect of trapidil (Tra) on endothelin-1-induced proliferation of cultured rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). METHODS: The [3H]TdR incorporation into DNA assay, the number of VSMC, and cell cycle distribution were measured. RESULTS: Pretreated with endothelin-1 100 nmol.L-1, cell number, [3H]TdR uptake, and cell mitogenic activity increased 134% +/- 23%, 210% +/- 70%, and 86% +/- 18%, respectively. This proliferation was inhibited by Tra 5, 50, 500 mumol.L-1. The inhibitory rates were 12%-48%, 35%-54% and 15%-47%, respectively. Tra did not influence the proliferation of VSMC without endothelin-1 pretreatment. CONCLUSION: Tra antagonized the proliferation of VSMC induced by endothelin-1.