Ablation of cardiac Cx43 abolishes E2-induced protection for myocardial function following acute I/R. a, b LVDP and RPP in male WT and Cx43-ic-KO mouse hearts following I/R. c, d LVDP and RPP in male Cx43-ic-KO mouse hearts without or with post-ischemic E2 treatment. e LVDP in male WT mouse hearts ± E2 treatment starting at the onset of reperfusion. Mean ± SEM, n = 4–5/group, unpaired t test, *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, ****p < 0.0001