Fig. 1. Study protocols used to assess the effect of test ischemia (15 min) on endothelium-dependent forearm vessel function. After equilibration, upper arm cuff was inflated for 15 min followed by reperfusion. Hyperemic blood flow response was measured using venous occlusion plethysmography after 15 and 30 min of reperfusion. Blood samples were collected after 2, 5, and 10 min of reperfusion. Dilator function to administration of 0.4 mg sublingual nitroglycerin (NTG) was used to assess endothelium-independent dilation at the end of each protocol. CTL = control protocol; SEVO = sevoflurane protocol.