According to these findings, the balance between ACE and ACE2 expression seems to be a determinant factor on the regulation of cell function and cell volume and that the beneficial effect of ACE inhibitors or AT1 receptor blockers during myocardial ischemia and heart failure be related to the prevention of cell swelling induced by extracellular renin and angiotensin II. Here, ACE is linked to myocardial ischemia.