Impaired border zone formation and adverse remodeling after reperfused myocardial infarction in cannabinoid CB2 receptor deficient mice.

Abstract Aims Reperfusion of myocardial infarction is associated with inflammatory reaction and subsequent myocardial remodeling with a rapid scar formation in mice. The cannabinoid receptor CB2 has been associated with cardioprotection and regulation of macrophage function. We investigated its role in remodeling of reperfused infarction. Main methods One hour LAD-occlusion was followed by reperfusion over 6 h and 1, 3 and 7 days in wild-type C57/BL6J (WT) and CB2 receptor-deficient (Cnr2 −/− ) mice (n = 8/group). Hearts were processed for functional, morphological and mRNA/protein analysis, and tissue concentration of endocannabinoids was determined using liquid chromatography-multiple rea…