Figure 4. Effect of sevoflurane (2.8%) on the rapid cooling contractures (RCCs) of guinea pig myocardium. Steady state contractile force evoked by 2 Hz stimulation (shown at high and low chart speed) followed by immediate cooling from 37 degrees Celcius to < 5 degrees Celcius achieved within 1.5 s, as shown by the temperature measurement in bottom record. Treatment with sevoflurane causes a profound reduction in the rapid cooling contractures. Note that while the anesthetic-induced depression in the electrically evoked contractions was readily reversed on washout, the effect of sevoflurane on the rapid cooling contractures was not.