Maintenance of Myocyte Volume Homeostasis During Stress by Diazoxide is Cardioprotective

Diazoxide, with or without either KATP-channel blocker, attenuated the significant myocyte swelling and reduced contractility secondary to metabolic inhibition. These data suggest a role for diazoxide, independent of the KATP channel, in myocyte volume homeostasis. In addition, the prevention of myocyte swelling resulted in improved contractility, consistent with previous data and the hypothesis that myocyte swelling may participate in the phenomenon of myocardial stunning.