The rats were anesthetized with chloralose (50 mg/kg, intraperitoneally, Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, MO, USA) and connected to a SAR-830 Small Animal Ventilator artificial respirator (CWE, Inc., Ardmore, PA, USA). They underwent thoracotomy, and the pericardium was removed. The ligature of the left descending coronary artery was superimposed 1–2 mm below the left atrial appendage according to a previously published method [6 (link)]. Coronary occlusion was verified by ST segment elevation. The right carotid artery was cannulated for measuring blood pressure, which was registered using an SS13L pressure transducer (Biopac System Inc., Goleta, CA, USA) coupled with an MP35 electrophysiological device (Biopac System Inc., Goleta, CA, USA). The same apparatus was used to record the ECG. Quantitative data processing was performed using INSTBSL-W software of Biopac System Inc., (Goleta, CA, USA).
After 45 min of ischemia, the silk ligature was loosened, and the restoration of the blood flow was confirmed by the appearance of epicardial hyperemia. The duration of reperfusion was 2 h.
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