Effects of nicorandil on large epicardial coronary artery in conscious dogs

The effect of 2-nicotinamidoethyl nitrate (nicorandil, SG-75, Sigmart) on coronary circulation was studied in conscious dogs, instrumented previously under sterile condition with sonomicrometers for the external coronary diameter measurement, and an electromagnetic flow plobe on the left circumflex coronary artery and a catheter into the thoracic aorta. Intravenous administration of nicorandil in doses of 10, 30, 100 and 300 micrograms/kg increased coronary blood flow dose-relatedly by 13 +/- 2, 24 +/- 3, 144 +/- 18 and 309 +/- 36%, respectively. Nicorandil also increased the diameter of the large epicardial coronary artery by 38 +/- 6, 71 +/- 11, 150 +/- 24 and 173 +/- 26 microns in doses of 10, 30, 100 and 300 micrograms/kg, respectively. To eliminate flow-dependent dilation of the coronary artery, the external diameter of the large epicardial coronary artery was measured during fixing the amount of coronary blood flow constant by a cuff occluder after intravenous administration of nicorandil, however, the degree of coronary diameter increase was not attenuated. Thus, nicorandil dilates both large and small coronary arteries in conscious dogs, the former dilation being independent from changes in coronary blood flow.