As expected, I/R significantly increased mRNA expression of several pro-fibrotic markers compared to sham-operated rats, including a significant ~2.5-fold increase in fibronectin and a significant ~3-fold increase in both collagen 1α and collagen 3α, the major collagen isoforms responsible for scar formation following heart attack [21]. This evidence concerns the gene FN1 and myocardial infarction.