CSF3 and myocardial infarction: The present study therefore has two aims: (1) to examine whether treatment with a small-dose G-CSF for a long duration, started 1 day after the onset of MI, beneficially affects the post-infarction process; and (2) to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the G-CSF actions, including phenotype alterations of the post-infarct heart and relative importance between STAT3 and Akt signals.