Sex is no determinant of cardioprotection by ischemic preconditioning in rats, but ischemic/reperfused tissue mass is for remote ischemic preconditioning.

We determined the impact of sex on the magnitude of cardioprotection by local and remote ischemic preconditioning (IPC and RIPC) and of ischemic/reperfused peripheral tissue mass on protection by RIPC. Hearts of female and male Lewis rats were excised, perfused with buffer, and underwent either IPC by 3 × 5/5 min global zero-flow ischemia/reperfusion (GI/R) or time-matched perfusion (TP) before 30/120 min GI/R. In a second approach, anesthetized female and male Lewis rats underwent RIPC, 3 × 5/5 min ischemia/reperfusion of one or both hindlimbs (1-RIPC or 2-RIPC), or placebo.