Thus, the effects of AT1R on the acute onset of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury and the recovery of ventricular function immediately after ischemic injury in the heart remain controversial, depending on systemic vs. local blockade, as well as chronic vs. acute blockade of AT1R. The present study addresses the question of whether chronic in vivo inhibition of AT1R by losartan modulates cardiac AT1R and AT2R expression, cardiac vulnerability to the acute onset of myocardial ischemia and reperfusion injury, and the recovery of ventricular function after ischemic injury in male rats. This evidence concerns the gene AGTR1 and myocardial ischemia.