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Figure 1 Effects of captopril and losartan on myocardial TNF-alpha mRNA expression in ischemic hearts. A, Representative PCR analysis of RNA samples (in duplicate). B, Relative optical density of TNF-alpha PCR signal. Data were normalized to relative GAPD PCR signal. Samples withdrawn at the beginning of perfusion (n = 5) (baseline) and after 90 min of normal, nonischemic perfusion (n = 4) (90' Perf) served as the control groups. In hearts undergoing global cardioplegic ischemia (n = 5), TNF-alpha mRNA expressions increased (*p < 0.03) (60' ischemia). A significant decrease in TNF-alpha mRNA expression is observed in hearts receiving either captopril (360 µmol/liter, n = 5) (Capt) or losartan (182.2 µmol/liter, n = 5) (Los) in cardioplegic solution, before ischemia. Band intensities were significantly lower than those of the ischemic group (p < 0.01 and 0.02, respectively).