Objective To investigate the myocardial protective effects of pinacidil induced hyperpolarized arrest and compare with those afforded by conventional depolarized hyperkalemic arrestMethods Eighteen dogs were equally divided into three groups: normothermic hyperpolarized group (Group A), hypothermic hyperpolarized group (Group B), and hyperkalemic group (Group C) Pinacidil (50μmol/L) containing 37℃ St Thomas solution (K+5mmol/L, 10ml/kg), pinacidil (50μmol/L, Sigma, USA) containing 4℃ St Thomas solution (K+ 5mmol/L, 10ml/kg) and 4℃ standard St Thomas solution (K+ 16mmol/L, 10ml/kg) were infused respectively through the aortic root after aorticclamping Heart arrest and its recovery, ultrastructure of the myocardium, the level of serum myocardial enzymes, and lipid peroxide and adenine cleotide of the myocardium were measuredHemodynamics during ischemia and after reperfusion were observedResults The percentages of normal mitochondria and glycogen did not change much during ischemia (except at 60 min) and after reperfusion in B Group, but declined markedly in Group C 30 min and 60 min after ischemia and 20 min after reperfusion (P<0.01) In Group A,they were lower than those of Group B before ischemia, but higher than those of Group C The recoveries of CO, SV, CI, LVSW, RVSW and MAP in Group B were significantly better than those in other two groups 15 min and 30 min after reperfusion (P<0.05and0.01, respectively) However, they were still better in Group A than those in Group C(P<0.05 and 0.01, respectively)The onset of heart arrest was faster in Groups C and B than that in Group A Highly elevated serum myocardial enzymes were observed 60 min after ischemia and 20 min after reperfusion in Group C, while they were only mild in the hyperpolarized groups, especially in Group B, and their recoveries were rapid Adenine nucleotides of the myocardium were better preserved in Group B than in other two groups 30 min, 60 min after ischemia, and 20 min after reperfusio
