These findings correlate with the temporal window for infarct scar healing in post-MI rat heart following coronary arterial occlusion.65 Conversely, samples taken at 24 and 48 h, and at 8 weeks post-MI, show no signs of autophagic activation in terms of LC3β II, Atg5-12 conjugation, fibronectin synthesis or Smad2 phosphorylation, in either scar or sham-operated control tissue. This evidence concerns the gene SMAD2 and myocardial infarction.