tokens: METHODS AND RESULTS : The effect of prolonged nitrate therapy between 2 days and 6 weeks during healing after infarction on serial parameters of ventricular remodeling ( scar expansion , scar thinning , ventricular dilation , and hypertrophy ) and function ( asynergy or akinesis plus dyskinesis and ejection fraction ) by serial two - dimensional echocardiography , hemodynamics , postmortem topography ( computerized planimetry , geometric maps , and radiographs ) , and collagen content ( hydroxyproline ) was studied in 64 instrumented dogs randomized 2 days after left anterior descending coronary artery ligation to various nitrate regimens ( n = 32 ) over the first 2 weeks ( subgroup 1 : 2 % transdermal nitroglycerin at 8 AM and 4 PM , n = 6 ; subgroup 2 : 2 % transdermal nitroglycerin plus 2 . 6 mg of sustained - release oral nitroglycerin at 8 AM , 3 PM , and 10 PM , n = 5 ; subgroup 3 : oral isosorbide dinitrate , 30 mg at 8 AM and 4 PM , n = 11 ) or 6 weeks ( subgroup 4 : isosorbide dinitrate , n = 10 ) and in matching controls ( n = 32 ) .