Fig. 2. Myocardial infarct size (IS) expressed as a percentage of the left ventricular area at risk (AAR). Desflurane was administered for 30 min and discontinued 30 min prior to coronary artery occlusion at 0.0 (CON) or 1.0 minimum alveolar concentration desflurane (DES). The nonselective nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N ω-nitro-l-arginine (l-NA; infusion rate 1.3 mg · kg−1· min−1) was given as a 10-min intravenous infusion before (l-NA + DES, trigger phase) or after desflurane (DES + l-NA, mediator phase) or alone (l-NA). All data are mean ± SEM. * Significantly ( P < 0.05) different from control animals. n = 8 in all groups except for DES + l-NA (n = 7).