Aim: To compare the effects of the non-peptide angiotensin II receptor type I antagonist, Losartan, and the active vascular peptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells induced by angiotensin II, and to explore the mechanism of depressor effect of Losartan and CGRP in vivo. Methods: MTT, [3H]-Thymidine incorporation and flow cytometry, were used to determine the ability of proliferation of VSMC induced by angiotensin II in the presence or absence of Losartan or CGRP, Western blotting was used to determine the activity of ERK1/2. Results:...