The cardioprotective effect of different doses of vasopressin (AVP) against ischemia-reperfusion injuries in the anesthetized rat heart

► The dose-response curve of AVP is U-shaped. ► Administration of exogenous AVP shows a cardioprotective effect against ischemia/reperfusion injury. ► Cardioprotective effect of AVP was partially blocked by SR49059 as AVP-selective V1 receptor antagonist.