Cardioprotection by ischemic postconditioning is lost in isolated perfused heart from diabetic rats: Involvement of transient receptor potential vanilloid 1, calcitonin gene-related peptide and substance P

► Cardioprotection by ischemic postconditioning (IPostC) is lost in diabetic hearts. ► The loss of cardioprotection by IPostC during diabetes is partly associated with a failure to increase CGRP and SP release, likely due to decreased TRPV1 expression and CGRP and SP contents in diabetic hearts. ► Exogenous application of CGRP or SP can restore the cardioprotection by IPostC in diabetic hearts.