Fig. 3

Creatinine levels for the follow-up study. The follow-up study using the same design as the initial study (see Fig. 1) was conducted to control for the citrate-independent effects of the sodium load that accompanies citrate. Box plots with whiskers indication minimum and maximum, 3–4 rats for the normoxic and I/R control groups and 6 rats per group for the 1.0 mmol/kg/h citrate and 3.0 mmol/kg/h Na⁺ groups. Creatinine after 40 min of ischemia plus 180 min of reperfusion. All I/R groups were significantly different from the normoxic control group at p < 0.001. ** p < 0.01 vs. I/R control group