Effects of HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors on Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells from Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Aim To investigate the effects of fluvastatin, simvastatin and lovastatin on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells derived from spontaneously hypertensive rats. Methods The aorta smooth muscle cells(ASMC) from spontaneously hypertensive rats were cultured, and proliferation of cells were detected by cell number counting and 3 H-thymidine( 3H-TdR) incorporation after incubation with AngⅡ, fluvastatin, simvastatin, lovastatin and mevalonate acid. Results The increased cell number and 3 H-TdR incorporation stimulated with 2%FCS and AngⅡ(10 -6 mol/L) were significantly inhibited by three agents in a concentration-dependent manner (10 -5 ～10 -7 mol/L), but the inhibitory efficacy was fluvastatinsimvastatinlovastatin. The inhibitory effects were completely reversed by mevalonate acid(10 -3 mol/L). Conclusions The proliferation of SHR ASMC was inhibited by fluvastatin, simvastatin and lovastatin, which suggested that mevalonate acid pathway may play an important role in the proliferation of SHR ASMC.