Abstract: Objective: To explore the effect of the different concentrations of magnesium ions on rat vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMCs) calcification. Methods: VSMCs were obtained from rat aortic, and identified by immunocytochemistry, then randomly divided into control group, high phosphorus group, magnesium intervention group (the group was settled three subgroups according to the concentration of magnesium ions based on based on the high phosphorus medium, namely 1 mmol/L, 2 mmol/L and 3 mmol/L).Calcification staining, calcium content and alkaline phosphatase activity were measured and the expression of Cbfα1 mRNA was detected by RT-PCR after stimulating 7 days. Results: Compared with the control group, the remaining groups had calcium deposits, and they were higher than the control group, the calcified nodules gradually reduced with the increasing magnesium ion concentration in the intervention group, In addition to the calcium content in the intervention group was no difference with the high phosphorus group, the intervention group 2 and 3 were lower than the high phosphate of calcium content (P<0.05), compared with the control group, ALP activity and Cbfα1 mRNA expression were no difference in the intervention group 2, the remaining groups were higher than the negative control group (P<0.05). ALP activity and the expression of Cbfα1 mRNA were gradually decreased with the increasing magnesium ion concentration in the intervention group, and were lower than the high phosphorus group (P<0.05). Conclusion: Magnesium can reduce calci?cation and osteoblastic transdifferentiation in vascular smooth muscle cells in a certain extent, which may be achieved by reducing the expression of Cbfα1 in VSMCs Cbfα1.

Key words: β-glycerophosphate, Vascular smooth muscle cells, Magnesium, Calcification, Calcium content, β-glycerophosphate, Vascular smooth muscle cells, 镁离子