The group at C2 of N-ethylnicotinamide determines the vasodilator potencies and mechanisms of action of nicorandil and its congeners in canine coronary arteries

The relaxant mechanisms of action of nicorandil and its congeners (SG-86, SG-103, SG-209 and SG-212) on large coronary arteries were investigated in isolated canine circumflex arteries contracted with 25 mmol/l KCl or 10−7 mol/l U46619, a thromboxane A2 analogue. SG-212, SG-86, SG-209 and SG-103 were obtained by replacement of the nitroxy group of nicorandil by bromine, the hydroxy, acetoxy and nicotinoyloxy groups, respectively.