Fig. 3.

Systolic function in the ischemic region. Preload-adjusted regional external work (see text) was utilized as a load-insensitive measure of regional systolic function. Under baseline (preischemic) conditions, regional external work index did not differ among groups (25 ± 2, 26 ± 4, 26 ± 1, and 25 ± 5 mmHg/cm² in untreated, troglitazone, rosiglitazone, and α-tocopherol groups, respectively). Therefore, data during ischemia and reperfusion are expressed as a fraction of baseline. Although each group exhibited contractile dysfunction during ischemia and reperfusion, dysfunction was less severe among troglitazone (n = 6) and α-tocopherol (n = 7) groups than among rosiglitazone (n = 12) and untreated (n = 15) groups. B, baseline; I, after 90 min of low-flow ischemia; R, after 90 min of reperfusion.