Effects of nitroglycerin on the coronary microcirculation in normal and ischemic myocardium

Nitroglycerin dilates conduit coronary vessels and only transiently increases flow, however the effects of nitroglycerin in the microcirculation of normal myocardium and during myocardial ischemia have not been assessed. The goal of this investigation was to determine the effects of steady-state levels of nitroglycerin on the microcirculation of normal and ischemic myocardium. Microvessels on the left ventricle were viewed using stroboscopic epi-illumination in anesthetized, open-chest dogs. Myocardial perfusion was measured with radioactive microspheres