Inhibitory effects of nifedipine on DNA and protein synthesis in cultured cardiac nonmyocytes of neonatal rats.
AIM
To observe the inhibitory effects of nifedipine (Nif) on cardiac nonmyocytes growth and proliferation.


METHODS
Using nonmyocytes in culture as a model, [3H]thymidine and [3H]leucine incorporation were measured.


RESULTS
There was a significant decrease in cell number and in total cellular protein after 72-h exposure to Nif 1 mumol.L-1 in the presence of angiotensin II (Ang II). A 48-h exposure to 1, 10, 100, 1000 nmol.L-1 of Ang II caused a 19%, 35%, 46%, 48% increase in protein synthesis and 27%, 46%, 56%, 57% increase in DNA synthesis. Nif 1, 3, and 10 mumol.L-1 were able to reduce the Ang II 100 nmol.L-1-induced increase of protein synthesis and DNA synthesis.


CONCLUSION
Nif had a direct inhibitory action on the growth of nonmyocytes, which was related to the regression of cardical hypertrophy.