Figure 1.
Experimental protocols of myocardial I/R injury and various ischaemic conditioning methods in rats. (A) Budapest study centre—hind-limb ischaemia and reperfusion by clamping femoral artery and vein. (B) Szeged study centre—hind-limb ischaemia and reperfusion by tightening and loosening of a tourniquet. (C–E) Experimental protocol with various durations of myocardial ischaemia in the Amsterdam study centre—hind-limb ischaemia and reperfusion by using pressure cuff. Initial group sizes (n) as the number of animals are shown under the corresponding groups. LAD: left anterior descending coronary artery; RIC: remote ischaemic conditioning; CON: control; IPC: ischaemic preconditioning; UNIRIC: unilateral RIC; BIRIC: bilateral RIC; IS: infarct size; MVO: microvascular obstruction; BP: blood pressure; HR: heart rate.