Nicorandil restores eNOS expression in the pulmonary vascular endothelium in established PAH.

<p>(<b>A</b>) Immunohistochemical staining for eNOS in lung sections in the reversal protocol. Arrows indicate the PAs. Scale bar, 50 µm. (<b>B</b>) Detection of eNOS expression in lungs by western blotting in this protocol. MCT downregulated eNOS expression in a time-dependent manner, whereas late treatment with nicorandil resulted in partial restoration of eNOS expression. (<b>C</b>) Bands in panel (B) were quantified, and eNOS expression data were expressed as fold increases normalized to β-actin expression. ^#<i>P</i><0.01 vs. normal control; ^##<i>P</i><0.01 vs. normal control and <i>P</i><0.05 vs. MCT-14; <b>^*</b><i>P</i><0.01 vs. MCT-35; <b>^†</b><i>P</i><0.01 vs. nicorandil (5.0 mg·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹).