Fig. 1.

Schematic representation of the protocol used for the evaluation of the effect of SERCA2a overexpression on I/R injury and evaluated parameters. At 2–6 days before ischemia induction, animals in each group were injected either with buffer or adenovirus carrying the βgal, SERCA2a, or PV gene. After 2–6 days, the LAD was ligated for 30 min. At 5 min into the ligation, 400 μlof fluorescent mycrospheres were injected into the LV cavity. At 48 h after I/R, the rats underwent echocardiographic evaluation and hemodynamic measurements using piezoelectric crystals and a pressure catheter. The rats were then killed, and the heart of each animal was excised and sectioned for TTC staining.