Effects of probucol on the proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor and hydrogen peroxide

AIM: To investigate the effect of probucol on proliferation of rat vascular smooth muscle cells(VSMC) stimulated by basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and/or hydrogen peroxide(H 2O 2). METHODS: Effects of probucol on VSMC proliferation and DNA synthesis stimulated by bFGF and/or H 2O 2 were observed by means of MTT test, cell number count and [ 3H]-TdR incorporation. RESULTS: ①Probucol significantly inhibited proliferation and DNA synthesis in VSMC stimulated by bFGF and/or H 2O 2, with dosage-dependent manner. Cell number, A value and [ 3H]-TdR incorporation in group probucol+bFGF and group probucol+H 2O 2 were reduced by 40.0%, 39.1%, 45 5% and 46 9%, 45 0%, 39 5%, respectively, compared with group bFGF and group H 2O 2 ( P 0 05, P 0 01, respectively). ②Pretreatment of VSMC with probucol for 24 h prior to bFGF and/or H 2O 2 stimulation exhibited significant inhibiton of VSMC proliferation and DNA synthesis, but after prestimulation by bFGF and/or H 2O 2 for 24 h, probucol had no influence on VSMC proliferation and DNA synthesis ( P 0.05). CONCLUSION: Probucol dramatically inhibited proliferation and DNA synthesis in VSMC stimulated by bFGF and/or H 2O 2, but had no inhibitory effect on the cell proliferation prestimulated by bFGF and /or H 2O 2. [