Nicorandil attenuates myocardial acidosis during coronary occlusion in dogs.

In dogs anaesthetized with pentobarbitone, the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was partially occluded. Before and 30 min after partial occlusion, the myocardial pH was 7.52-7.54 and 6.89-6.91, respectively. Nicorandil (50 micrograms kg-1, i.v.) increased the pH that had been reduced by partial occlusion and this effect lasted at least 60 min. Thus nicorandil attenuates ischaemic myocardial acidosis.