Calcium influx modulates DNA synthesis and proliferation in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells

In A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cultures basal Ca2+ influx was higher in growing versus quiescent cells (P less than 0.05), due primarily to a five-fold increase in dihydropyridine-inhibitable Ca2+ influx (P less than 0.005). Verapamil decreased [3H]thymidine incorporation in a concentration dependent fashion with a significant 6 +/- 2% inhibition at 0.1 microM and a maximal inhibition of 67 +/- 2% at 100 microM. Similarly, nitrendipine inhibited fetal calf serum-stimulated [3H]thymidine incorporation with a threshold concentration of 1 nM and a maximal inhibition of 79 +/- 12% at 10 microM. In quiescent cells, verapamil (10 microM) inhibited the increases in [3H]thymidine incorporation stimulated by fetal calf serum, serotonin, vasopressin or 12-0-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate by 37-43% (P less than 0.001 vs. control for all). Finally, verapamil (100 microM) and nitrendipine (10 microM) inhibited proliferation by 39 +/- 10 and 20 +/- 6%, respectively (P less than 0.01 and 0.02 vs. control, respectively). Thus in A7r5 cells, proliferation is associated with increased Ca2+ influx via dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca2+ channels and organic Ca2+ channel antagonists inhibit DNA synthesis and cell proliferation.