Heat shock proteins (HSPs) may play a cardioprotective role during hypoxia or ischemia. We hypothesized that cardiac tissue from hypoxia-tolerant animals might have high levels of specific HSPs. We measured myocardial HSP60 and HSP72/73 in painted and softshell turtles during normoxia and anoxia (12 h) and after recovery (12 or 24 h). We also measured myocardial HSPs in normoxic rats and rabbit...
