Figure 1.

Experimental protocol for the studies examining the role of mitochondrial K_ATP channels in the antiarrhythmic effects of ischaemic preconditioning in anaesthetized dogs. Preconditioning was induced by a 5 min occlusion of the left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery 20 min prior to a 25 min occlusion of the same artery (PC group, n=14). Two groups of preconditioned dogs were given 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) in a dose of 150 μg kg⁻¹ min⁻¹ by intracoronary infusion over a 30 min period, either before (5-HD+PC); n=10) or immediately after (PC+5-HD; n=10) preconditioning. In some dogs diazoxide was injected, by the intracoronary route, in a dose of 1 mg kg⁻¹ 20 min prior to the prolonged occlusion either alone (n=3) or in the presence of 5-HD (n=6). Control dogs (n=10) were given intracoronary saline (0.5 ml min⁻¹) over a period of 30 min and then subjected to prolonged (25 min) ischaemia.