Nitric Oxide Donors, Sodium Nitroprusside and S-Nitroso-N-Acetylpenicillamine, Stimulate Myoblast Proliferation in vitro

Nitric oxide (NO) is an inter- and intracellular messenger involved in a variety of physiologic and pathophysiologic conditions. The effect of two NO donors, sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine (SNAP) and their effect on myoblast proliferation was examined. Both donors stimulated an increase in myoblast cell number over a range (1-10 µM) of donor concentrations. However, 50 µM SNAP inhibited myoblast proliferation. Cell numbers from cultures treated with degraded 10 µM SNAP were equivalent to the control. Therefore, it appears NO can stimulate as well as inhibit myoblast proliferation.