Fig. 1.  Experimental protocol. (A ) Part 1. Study design to test cardioprotective effects of hypoxic LPC at different oxygen concentrations (16, 12, 8%) and the functional involvement of protein kinase C. (B ) Part 2. Study design to test cardioprotective effects of early preconditioning with sevoflurane and continuous administration of sevoflurane or propofol. (C ) Part 3. Study design to test cardioprotective effects of hypoxic LPC combined with early preconditioning protocols described in part 2. Control = normoxic control; LPC = late preconditioning; LPC16 = LPC, 16% oxygen; LPC12 = LPC, 12% oxygen; LPC8 = LPC, 8% oxygen; Propofol = continuous propofol early preconditioning; Sevoflurane = continuous sevoflurane early preconditioning; S-PC = sevoflurane early preconditioning.