Summary: This study was undertaken in dogs to investigate the effects of nicardipine (NCR)- and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1)- induced hypotension on left ventricular myocardial function, and on coronary hemodynamics in the presence of a partially obstructed left coronary artery. A stenosis of left circumflex coronary artery (LCX) was induced to reduce LCX blood flow by 20%. Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was lowered by infusion of NCR or PGE1 to 80% and 60% of the control. Heart rate, cardiac index, left ventricular dp/dt max, myocardial oxygen extraction ratio, inner/outer blood flow ratio and myocardial lactate extraction ratio showed no significant change at either 80%- or 60%-MAP during infusion of either drug. PGE1 -induced hypotension reduced left ventricular end-diastolic pressure at both 80%- and 60%-MAP. The results indicate that the moderate hypotension induced by NCR or PGE1 does not exert either myocardial depression or adverse effects on the myocardial oxygen supply-demand relationship in the presence of a critical coronary stenosis