1 This study investigates the eects of two agonists of the prostanoid EP 3 -receptor (M&B 28767 and GR 63799X) on the infarct size caused by regional myocardial ischaemia and reperfusion in the anaesthetized rat. 2 One hundred and sixty-seven, male Wistar rats were anaesthetized (thiopentone, 120 mg kg 71 , i.p.), ventilated (8 ± 10 ml kg 71 , 70 strokes min
71, inspiratory oxygen concentration: 30%; PEEP: 1 ± 2 mmHg) and subjected to occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD, for 7.5, 15, 25, 35, 45 or 60 min) followed by reperfusion (2 h). Infarct size was determined by staining of viable myocardium with a tetrazolium stain (NBT), histological evaluation by light and electron microscopy and determination of the plasma levels of cardiac troponin T. 3 M&B 28767 (0.5 mg kg 71 min 71 , i.v., n=7) or GR 63799X (3 mg kg 71 min 71 , i.v., n=7) caused signi®cant reductions in infarct size from 60+3% (25 min ischaemia and 2 h reperfusion; salinecontrol, n=8) to 39+6 and 38+4% of the area at risk, without causing a signi®cant fall in blood pressure. Pretreatment of rats with 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD), an inhibitor of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, attenuated the cardioprotective eects of both EP 3 -receptor agonists. The reduction in infarct size aorded by M&B 28767 was also abolished by glibenclamide and the protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitors staurosporine and chelerythrine. 4 Thus, M&B 28767 and GR 63799X reduce myocardial infarct size in the rat by a mechanism(s) which involves the activation of PKC and the opening of ATP-sensitive potassium channels.