Effect of NCO-700, an inhibitor of protease, on myocardial pH decreased by coronary occlusion in dogs.

During myocardial ischemia in dogs effects of NCO-700, a protease inhibitor on myocardial pH, were investigated. Ischemia was produced for 90 min by partial occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD). Myocardial pH was measured by a micro glass pH electrode inserted in the subendocardium of the LAD area. Before partial occlusion, myocardial pH was 7.50-7.67. It decreased by 0.65 to 0.86 pH units after partial occlusion. NCO-700 was injected intravenously after 30 min partial occlusion. At a dose of 5 or 20 mg/kg NCO-700 increased myocardial pH, which had been decreased by LAD partial occlusion, by 0.26 or 0.31 pH units, respectively. In the nonischemic myocardium pH increased only 0.03 units. Drug-induced restoration of myocardial [H+] was then calculated. At a dose of 5 or 20 mg/kg NCO-700 restored myocardial [H+], which had been increased by partial occlusion. However, NCO-700 did not attenuate the ischemia-induced elevation of ST segment of the surface electrocardiogram. These observations demonstrate that NCO-700 attenuates myocardial pH depressed by partial occlusion of LAD.