Figure 2. Contractile function of myocytes at baseline and after 30, 60, 90, or 120 min in cardioplegia solution and subsequent rewarming to 37 degrees Celsius. Velocity of shortening and percent shortening were similar to baseline for myocytes exposed for up to 90 min to cardioplegia solution. In contrast, myocytes exposed to cardioplegia solution for 120 min displayed a significant reduction in both percent and velocity of shortening. A minimum of ten myocytes were studied at each time point (*P < 0.05 vs. baseline).