Attenuation by isosorbide dinitrate of coronary occlusion-induced acidosis in the dog myocardium.

In dogs anaesthetized with pentobarbitone, the thorax was opened and myocardial pH measured continuously by the use of a glass pH electrode inserted in the left ventricular wall. The left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) was partially occluded so that the LAD flow could be reduced to a half or one-third of the original flow (partial occlusion). LAD partial occlusion was continued for 90 min, drug or saline being infused for the last 60 min of this period. LAD occlusion decreased myocardial pH significantly by 0.41 to 0.67 pH units, and increased ST segment of the surface electrocardiogram from 11.7 to 12.1 mV. In dogs with non-ischaemic normal hearts, isosorbide dinitrate (ISDN; 1 mg kg-1) did not change markedly either the LAD flow, myocardial pH or heart rate, whereas it decreased myocardial contractile force (determined by a strain gauge arch) slightly and both the systolic and diastolic blood pressure markedly. In dogs with partial LAD occlusion, ISDN (1 mg kg-1) increased myocardial pH significantly and decreased blood pressure, but did not change ST segment elevation in an epicardial lead. These results indicate that ISDN attenuates ischaemia-induced acidosis without attenuating ischaemia-induced ST elevation in the dog myocardium.