Hypoxia induces late preconditioning in the rat heart in vivo.

Background: Although hypoxic late preconditioning (LPC) limits ischemia-reperfusion injury in vitro, its cardioprotective effect is not established in vivo.

Methods: In part 1, rats were exposed to 4 h of hypoxia (16%, 12%, 8% oxygen) before 24 h of reoxygenation. In part 2, normoxic rats received early preconditioning with sevoflurane (1 minimum alveolar concentration [MAC] for 3 × 5 min), continuous administration of 1 MAC sevoflurane, or 11 mg · kg · h propofol.