Effect of anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs on in vitro smooth muscle cell proliferation.
Effects of anticoagulant and antiplatelet drugs on vascular smooth muscle cell plating efficiency and proliferation were assessed using in vitro tissue culture techniques. Canine carotid artery smooth muscle cells were derived, pooled and plated into tissue culture cluster wells to which various drugs were added. Regular beef lung and porcine intestinal and low molecular weight porcine intestinal heparins reduced smooth muscle cell counts. Among antiplatelet drugs, reduced smooth muscle cell counts were seen with dipyridamole and ibuprofen, as well as with the combinations of ASA and dipyridamole, and ASA and dazoxiben. Although in vitro results cannot necessarily be extrapolated to in vivo settings, especially in regard to antiplatelet drugs, results of this study indicate direct effects of certain commonly used clinical agents in reducing smooth muscle cell growth.