Figure 4

Kidney cortex microcirculation measured with laser Doppler flowmeter . Measured flux is expressed as a percentage of the baseline flux before the aortic clamping. At revascularization flux dropped and for about 30 min remained at a lower, stable level in both IR (ischemia-reperfusion, n = 8) and PostC (postconditioned, n = 8) group. Thereafter microcirculation improved in the PostC group nearly reaching the normal baseline level, while it further deteriorated in the IR group. Shadowing marks the period of ischemia.