Protective effects of the antianginal agent nicorandil on arachidonate-induced sudden death in rats: comparison with several antianginal agents and cyclooxygenase inhibitors

Abstract

In anesthetized rats, intra-carotid injections of arachidonate . Na (20 mg/kg) elicited a marked pressor response, producing death within 10 min in untreated rats. The antianginal agents (nicorandil, nitroglycerin and diltiazem) and cyclooxygenase inhibitors (indomethacin and aspirin), applied i.v. or p.o., effectively protected the rats from death. In the surviving rats, these drugs significantly prevented intravascular thrombosis in cerebral vessels and the marked pressor response to arachidonate . Na. The protective mechanism of the antianginal agents tested seems to be different from that of cyclooxygenase inhibitors.