Muscle microcirculation measured with laser Doppler flowmeter.

<p>Measured flux is expressed as a percentage of the baseline flux before the aortic clamping. Flux dropped at the onset of aortic occlusion in both the ischemia-reperfusion (IR, marked with a broken line) and Levosimendan (unbroken line) groups. After release of the aortic occlusion, microcirculation increased to about 100% of baseline flux in the Levoismendan group, while in IR group flux reached only 80% of the baseline measurements. Sham operated group is marked with a dotted line. Values are expressed as means ± SD, ‡: p<0.001 vs. Sham, $: p<0.01 vs. IR, §: p<0.001 vs. IR.