Parallel to the decrease of coronary blood flow in the IC group, myocardial expression of MMP-2 was higher in bioluminescence-positive border zones of the infarction as compared to the IM group (MMP-2 72 kD: 338 ± 81 vs 185 ± 38 intensity × mm2, p = 0.005; and MMP-2 64 kD: 448 ± 88 vs 315 ± 54 intensity × mm2, p = 0.006), suggesting the increase in acute oxidative stress due to cell slugging in the microvasculature (Figure 3). This evidence concerns the gene MMP2 and infarction.