a Protocol 3A: effect of Krebs–Henseleit (KH) buffer, serum and serum fractions (supernatant-bottom, supernatant-top), obtained from Zucker lean rats following the standard RIPC stimulus, on % cell death (mean ± SEM) of HL-1 cells subjected to 2.5 h of hypoxia and 24 h of reoxygenation. *p < 0.05 versus KH buffer. b Protocol 3B: effect of KH buffer, serum and serum fractions (supernatant-bottom, supernatant-top), obtained from Zucker fatty rats following the standard RIPC stimulus, on % cell death (mean ± SEM) of HL-1 cells subjected to 2.5 h of hypoxia and 24 h of reoxygenation. *p < 0.05 versus KH buffer