Fig. 3. (  A ) Determination of neutrophil-induced alveolar epithelial cell (AEC) killing. Lactate dehydrogenase release was measured as a measure for degree of cytotoxicity. AECs were stimulated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 4 h with or without 1 μm ropivacaine (ropi), followed by an incubation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated neutrophils for 5 h. Cytotoxicity was calculated as described. Values are shown as mean ± SEM. The experiment was performed three times with similar results. (  B ) Determination of neutrophil-induced rat pulmonary artery endothelial cell (RPAEC) killing. Lactate dehydrogenase release was measured as a measure for degree of cytotoxicity. RPAECs were stimulated with PBS or lipopolysaccharide for 4 h with or without 1 μm ropivacaine, followed by an incubation with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate-stimulated neutrophils for 5 h. Cytotoxicity was calculated as described. Values are shown as mean ± SEM. The experiment was performed three times with similar results.