Some studies have found that DEX can activate signaling pathways through G proteins such as PI3K/Akt and MEK1-2-ERK1/2, reducing the inflammatory responses and apoptosis caused by ischemia-reperfusion, thus decreasing myocardial infarct size (Ibacache et al., 2012; Sulaiman et al., 2012). Here, MAPK3 is linked to myocardial infarction.