Agmatine inhibits proliferation of rat PASMCs induced by hypoxia

AIM: To determine the effect of agmatine on the proliferation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) induced by hypoxia. METHODS: Primary culture of rat PASMCs was prepared from adult male Wistar rat pulmonary artery by the method of tissue block anchorage. PASMCs were divided into two groups: control group and agmatine-treated group. The activity of LDH in the medium was measured by chromatometry. ［3H］-TdR incorporation was measured by liquid scintillation counting. The cell cycle was measured by flow cytometry, and the PCNA content was measured by image analysis. RESULTS: Agmatine did not exert significant effect on the activity of LDH in the medium, but significantly decreased the ［3H］-TdR incorporation and PCNA content of PASMCs. Agmatine significantly decreased the cell ratio of G2/M phase and increased the cell ratio of G0/G1 phase. With the increment of the concentration of agmatine, ［3H］-TdR incorporation was significantly decreased. CONCLUSION: Agmatine has no significant cytotoxic effect on PASMCs and agmatine dose-dependently inhibits the proliferation of rat PASMCs induced by hypoxia.