Fig. 1.
Development of cellular hypercontracture during exposure to H2O2 and its prevention by sevoflurane (SEVO). (A and B) Original confocal images of fluo-3 fluorescence in mouse ventricular myocytes within the same field of view recorded before (Baseline) and 5, 10, and 15 min after exposure to H2O2 (100 μm), without (A) and with (B) the concomitant administration of 3% SEVO. Rod-shaped viable myocytes under baseline conditions are numbered (1–16) in both A and B and arrows indicate H2O2-evoked hypercontracted myocytes in (A). Scale bar indicates 100 μm. (C and D) Time course of changes in fluo-3 fluorescence intensity (Ca) and length and width ratio (Cb) measured in 16 myocytes that were viable (rod-shaped) before exposure to H2O2, shown in panels A and B, respectively. Data for myocytes that underwent hypercontracture are marked red in C. Experiments were conducted at room temperature (23°–25°C). a.u. = arbitrary units.