Activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and pro-survival signaling pathways, together with alteration of mitochondrial bioenergetics, contribute to the mechanisms of various cardioprotective strategies against ischemia and reperfusion injury (Tsang et al., 2004; Mio et al., 2009; Ge et al., 2010). This evidence concerns the gene NOS3 and ischemia.