title: Effect of nicorandil, a K+ATP -channel opener, on coronary capillary architecture and volume after early myocardial ischemia-reperfusion--a 3-dimensional confocal laser microscopic study--.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous experimental and clinical studies have reported that nicorandil, an adenosine triphosphate (ATP)-sensitive K+ channel opener, exerts a beneficial effect on microvascular function and clinical outcome after myocardial ischemia. The present study assessed whether intravenous administration of nicorandil affects the 3-dimensional (3-D) architectural characteristics of capillaries and their volume after early myocardial reperfusion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Using the hearts of open-chest anesthetized rats, the left anterior descending artery was occluded for 7 min followed by reperfusion. Nicorandil or saline was infused intravenously during occlusion and reperfusion. The entire coronary microvasculature was filled with contrast medium after the hearts were arrested. Capillaries were observed 3-dimensionally by confocal laser scanning microscopy in both the control area and reperfused area of all samples. The capillary volume fraction was computed from the 3-D images. The reperfused area in both the nicorandil and saline groups showed characteristic architectural changes of the capillaries. Capillary volume fraction in the reperfused area was significantly reduced in saline group, compared with nicorandil group [12.7+/-7.2% vs 18.1 +/-5.3% (p<0.01)].
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intravenous nicorandil administration has a beneficial effect on capillary damage after reperfusion.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Cardiology, Kawasaki Medical School, Matsushima, Kurashiki, Japan. non@med.kawasaki-m.ac.jp
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akasaka
authors.forename: Katsukuni
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Fujimoto
authors.forename: Tatsuya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kajita
authors.forename: Fumiyuki
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shigeto
authors.forename: Yoji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Neishi
authors.forename: Yasuo
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogasawara
authors.forename: Kiyoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshida
mesh_terms: D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000473:pathology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000473:pathology*; D015428:Myocardial Reperfusion Injury / Q000473:pathology*; D020108:Nicorandil / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D015221:Potassium Channels; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D020108:Nicorandil; D000255:Adenosine Triphosphate