Effect of preconditioning temperature on cardioprotection during global ischemia-reperfusion in the rat heart.

Background: Myocardial ischemic preconditioning (PC) is a protective intervention that aims to reduce the deleterious effects of ischemia-reperfusion injury.

Objectives: : To assess the comparative efficacy of ischemic PC induced at hypothermic, normothermic and hyperthermic temperatures on the postischemic recovery of left ventricular contractile and coronary vascular functions in the aortic perfused rat heart model.

Methods: An isolated aorta-perfused (Langendorff) rat heart model was used.