Fig. 4. Time course of dLVP/dtmax(contractility) and dLVP/dtmin(relaxation) for each of the five groups. dLVP/dtmaxand dLVP/dtminwere reversibly depressed during sevoflurane exposure; this was not blocked by 5-hydroxydecanoate (5-HD) bracketing. During reperfusion, the contraction and relaxation indices were improved only in anesthetic preconditioning (APC) hearts compared with untreated ischemic control hearts (ISC), APC+5-HD, and 5-HD hearts. See figure 2for statistical symbols.