Fig. 1.

Diesel exhaust particle (DEP) causes cardiomyocyte contractile defects in culture. Cardiomyocytes were treated with culture media or culture media with DEP at 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 μg/ml for 1 h, and cell function was assessed. A: percent peak shortening (%PS). B: shortening velocity (vel) (−dL/dT). C: relaxation velocity (+dL/dT). D: time (t) to 90% relaxation (TR 90). E: time to 90% peak shortening (TPS 90). All values were analyzed from 8 to 10 cells from 3 to 4 rats each normalized to control cells for each rat. *Significantly different from control treatment, P < 0.05 by ANOVA.