We assessed the effects of ischemic preconditioning on heart recovery and
metabolic indices of damage following global ischemia and reperfusion, in
relationship to post-ischemic lactate release. Three groups of Langendorff
rat hearts were studied: (1) A control group of 40 min global ischemia and
45 min reperfusion; (2) preconditioning by 5 min global ischemia and 15
min reperfusion prior to sustained ischemia and reperfusion; (3)
Preconditioning by three episodes of brief ischemia-re
