Vasodilator-Derived Nitric Oxide Inhibits Fetal Calf Serum- and Angiotensin-il-Induced Growth of Renal Arteriolar Smooth Muscle Cells1

Chemically derived nitric oxide (NO) and 8-bromo-cyclic-GMP (cGMP) have been shown to inhibit the growth of cultured aortic smooth muscle cells. However, their effects on growth of smooth muscle cells of resistance arteries have not been studied, al-though abnormalities in the control of such growth are related to the elevated vascular resistance in hypertension. This study evaluated the effects of three chemically dissimilar nitrovasodi-lators and CGMP on fetal calf serum (FCS)-induced growth of renal artenolar smooth muscle cells (ASMCs). The compounds used were S-nitroso-N-acetylpencillamine (SNAP), sodium nitro-prusside (SNP) and isosorbide-dinitrate (ISDN) and cell growth was evaluated in terms of DNA synthesis and cell number. In addition, the effects of vasodilator-derived NO on Angiotensin-ll (Ang-ll)-induced ASMC growth and contraction were studied