Fig. 7. The experimental protocol of this study.

One-hundred and twenty-six male Wistar rats were subjected to either sham operation (G1: sham, n = 6) or cardiac I/R operation (G2-G11, n = 12/group). Rats in cardiac I/R group were pretreated with either 10% DMSO in normal saline solution (G2: vehicle, n = 12) or cell death inhibitors, including an apoptosis inhibitor (Z-VAD), a necroptosis inhibitor (Nec-1), and a ferroptosis inhibitor (Fer-1). All inhibitors were subdivided into three different doses, including low, medium (Med), and high dose (n = 12/group). I/R ischemia/reperfusion injury, i.v. intravenous, DMSO dimethyl sulfoxide.