Leptin Inhibits the Proliferation of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Induced by Angiotensin II through Nitric Oxide-Dependent Mechanisms

Figure 2

Effect of leptin on basal and Ang II-induced proliferation of aortic VSMCs. Aortic VSMCs obtained from Wistar rats were incubated for 72 hours with increasing concentrations of leptin (0.1–100 nmol/L) in the absence (a) or presence (b) of Ang II (100 nmol/l), and the proliferative response was measured using a tetrazolium dye (MTT)-based proliferation assay. Effect of leptin on Ang II (100 nmol/l)-induced proliferation in VSMCs obtained from the aorta of leptin receptor-deficient Zucker fa/fa rats (c) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Values are the mean $\pm$ SEM ($n$ = 40). Differences between groups were analysed by one-way ANOVA followed by Dunnet’s test. *$P$$\hspace{0.17em}<\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}$.05, ***$P\hspace{0.17em}<\hspace{0.17em}\hspace{0.17em}$.001 versus control response in unstimulated cells (a) or to Ang II (b, c).

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