Table 1.

Function of isolated rat working hearts

	Baseline (n = 3)	Ischaemia (n = 3)	Ischaemia–reperfusion (n = 3)
Intrinsic heart rate (beats min−1)	224.4 ± 6.9	218.6 ± 13.4	213.7 ± 2.0
LVPmax (mmHg)	128.23 ± 5.08	112.93 ± 6.25*	115.8 ± 1.626*
LVPmin (mmHg)	4.57 ± 0.46	6.53 ± 0.146*	5.98 ± 0.65
SV (μl (mg heart tissue)−1)	0.076 ± 0.005	0.052 ± 0.003*	0.063 ± 0.01*
+dP/dtmax (mmHg s−1)	3756 ± 124	3140 ± 203*	3266 ± 76*
−dP/dtmax (mmHg s−1)	2947 ± 170	2287 ± 55.22**	2265 ± 135*

Nine adult rats were randomly separated into three groups for working heart studies. One group of the hearts was continuously worked for 90 min to measure the baseline function. The second group was used to produce 20 min regional ischaemia by LAD ligation after 30 min stabilization at the base line conditions. The third group was given 40 min reperfusion after the 20 min LAD ligation. The results showed that cardiac function was significantly decreased after LAD ligation. The cardiac function remained suppressed after reperfusion.

^*P < 0.05,

^**P < 0.01 versus the baseline controls.