ABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the effect and underlying mechanism of nocodazole on the inhibition of rVSMCs proliferation. Methods rVSMCs were divided into four groups, group A (normal culture), group B (serum-free culture for 24 h) , group C ( 18 h normal culture after 48 h of serum-free culture ) , and group D ( nocodazole treatment for 12 h after thymidine treatment for 12 h) . Flow cytometry, transmission electron microscopy, and metabolism measurements were performed and mitofusin-2 ( Mfn-2 ) expression was detected. Results Flow cytometry analysis showed rVSMCs of group B、C、D were arrested to G0/G1 , S and G2/M phases, respectively. Less and smaller mitochondria were observed in group D by transmission electron microscopy in nocodazole-treated rVSMCs. Compared with groups A and C, there were significant decreases in glucose and L-amino acid metabolism, levels of ATP, and marked increase in NADH in group D(P<0. 05). Western Blot showed that G2/M cell cycle arrest and nocodazole could induce up-regulation of Mfn-2 in rVSMCs(P<0. 05). Conclusion Nocodazole can block the energy metabolism and proliferation in rVSMCs, which is probably associated with the role of Mfn-2 on anti-atherosclerosis.