Nitric oxide inhibits the basic fibroblast growth factor-stimulated migration of bovine vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF)-stimulated migration of bovine VSMC in vitro. Methods: For the migration assay 50, 000 cells from passages 4 to 8 were put into a migration chamber and stimulated with 10 ng bFGF/ml (control group). For another experiment, the NO donator sodium nitro-prusside (SNP) (10(-6) 10(-8), 10(-10) M), the second messenger of NO 8-bromo-cGMP (10(-6) 10(-8), 10(-10) M) and 100 U of superoxide dismutase (SOD) were added. Migration of cells was quantified after fixing and staining of the cells by means of light microscopy. Results: Cell migration was significantly inhibited by SNP in a dose dependent manner (p < 0.01 with t-test). This effect was mirrored by 8-bromo-cGMP and not significantly inhibited by SOD, confirming this to be an NO mediated effect and excluding side-effects of superoxide-derived oxidation products. Conclusion: Nitric oxide inhibits the basic fibroblast growth factor stimulated migration of bovine vascular smooth muscle cells in vitro.