Fig. 6

Mean arterial blood pressure in 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. Mean arterial blood pressure was assessed every 10 min starting with the beginning of the surgical procedure. Arterial blood pressure was continuously recorded via a catheter placed in the femoral artery. Grey-shaded areas indicate the periods of infusion of trisodium citrate or 3.5% NaCl. Calcium levels were kept stable by corresponding infusions of calcium gluconate. Normoxic and I/R control groups received only 0.9% NaCl solution. Infusion volume was 5 ml/kg/h in all animals. Values are means of 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. + p < 0.05 vs. 1.0 mmol/kg/h citrate group