We investigated in rabbits whether sevoflurane enhances late cardioprotection induced by geranylgeranylacetone (GGA), a gastric antiulcer drug.S(+)-ketamine and xylazine-anesthetized rabbits were assigned to one of seven experimental groups: a control (vehicle only) group, a GGA group, a sevoflurane group, a GGA+sevoflurane group, a sodium 5-hydroxydecanoate (5HD) group, a GGA + 5HD group, and a heat stress group. All rabbits were subjected to 30 min of coronary artery occlusion followed by 3 h of reperfusion. Rabbits were pretreated with IV vehicle, GGA (10 mg/kg), or heat stress (42 degrees C for 15 min) 24 h before coronary occlusion. Sevoflurane (0.5 minimum alveolar concentration) or 5HD (5 mg/kg) were administered before myocardial ischemia. Myocardial infarct size and the area at risk for ischemia were measured, and heat shock protein (Hsp) 70 levels in each experimental group were determined.Compared with vehicle only, GGA significantly reduced the size of myocardial infarction in relation to the area at risk (39 +/- 10% vs 59 +/- 9%, P 0.98).GGA appears to reduce myocardial infarct size in association with increased Hsp 70 expression. Sevoflurane enhances the GGA-induced cardioprotective effect.