β-glycerophosphate induced calcification of rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells

AIM: To study calcification of rat aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VMSC) induced by β-glycerophosphate in vitro. METHODS: VMSC was cultured in vitro by tissue explant. All cells were divided into calcification group and normal group. In calcification group, 10 mmol/L β-glycerophosphate, 0.1 μmol/L insulin and 50 μg/L Vitamin C were added to induce VSMC calcification. All groups were continuously treated for 14 days. Alizarin red S staining was applied to count the calcium nodus, and cell calcium depositions were measured. VSMC proliferation was measured by tetrazolium salt (MTT) methord. RESULTS: The count of calcium nodus in calcification group was (7.4±3.8)%, which were significantly increased compared to normal group(4.3±1.9)%, (P0.01). Cell calcium depositions in calcification group were (5.4±0.4) mmol/g protein, compared to normal group (1.2±0.5) mol/g protein, were significantly increased, and had reached a statistics difference (P0.01). VSMC proliferation in calcification group was (0.071±0.011, compared to normal group (0.040±0.009, was significantly increased, and had reached statistics difference (P0.01). CONCLUSION: β-glycerophosphate can induced calcification of rat aortic VSMC in vitro. Calcification can promote VSMC proliferation.