Norepinephrine reversibly regulates the proliferation and phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells.

Objective: To investigate the effect of norepinephrine (NE) on the proliferation and phenotypic transformation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and the mechanisms underlying this effect.

Methods: VSMCs were isolated from the rat abdominal aorta. VSMCs cultured in both serum-containing or in a serum-free medium were treated with NE, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), alpha-adrenergic receptor agonist (alpha1-R(-)), beta1-adrenergic receptor antagonist (beta1-R(-)) and various combinations of these factors.