PMID: 8968344Dec 1, 1996Paper

Inotropic and coronary vasodilatory actions of the K-adenosine triphosphate channel modulator nicorandil in human tissue

The Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics
J Müller-EhmsenR H Schwinger

Abstract

The present study aimed to characterize the inotropic and vasodilatory properties of the K-ATP channel opener nicorandil (NIC) in isolated human cardiac tissue. For comparison, the Ca+2 channel blockers diltiazem (DIL) and nifedipine (NIF) have been studied. Concentration-dependent effects of NIC, DIL and NIF on the force of contraction (FOC) and the vascular tone have been studied on left ventricular papillary muscle strips (dilated cardiomyopathy, New York Heart Association Class IV, n = 20; nonfailing, donor hearts, n = 4), on right auricular trabeculae (nonfailing, n = 5) and on precontracted (prostaglandin F2 alpha: 0.3, 0.5 or 1 mumol/l) isolated human coronary artery rings (cardiac transplantation, n = 15). NIC, DIL and NIF concentration-dependently reduced the FOC of the papillary muscle preparations. However, the IC25 for the negative inotropic effect was significantly higher for NIC compared to DIL and NIF. The maximal negative inotropic effects of NIC, DIL and NIF (100 mumol/l) were -48.2 +/- 4.1, -92.9 +/- 0.9 and -93.4 +/- 1.4% of the basal FOC. The negative inotropic actions of NIC were similar in the human failing and the nonfailing ventricular and in the right atrial myocardium. Whereas pretreatment with methyle...Continue Reading

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