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1 In a dog model of partial myocardial ischaemia, superimposed ST segment elevations in epicardial ECGs were inhibited by nicardipine over a cumulative i.v. dose range of 1-20 ,ug kg-1. 2 Over the cumulative i.v. dose range of 0.5-166.5 ,ug kg-', nicardipine had little overall effect on gross cardiac conduction, at spontaneous heart rate. 3 Dogs that received oral 1-2 mg kg-1 nicardipine daily for 16 weeks and then survived 1 week occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) developed a superior coronary collateral circulation compared with untreated animals. 4 Nicardipine given by three different dosing schedules to baboons markedly limited myocardial infarction over a 6 h period of LAD occlusion. 5 Compared with a group of completely untreated dogs, there was protection of the myocardium in the animals given nicardipine that survived 3 months occlusion of the LAD.