SLC8A1 and diabetes mellitus: To explore the possible mechanism behind ALDH2 and diabetes-induced responses on cardiac function, particularly on mitochondrial function and intracellular Ca2+ homeostasis, western blot analysis was performed to assess the levels of the key mitochondrial proteins UCP-2 and PGC1α as well as the essential intracellular Ca2+ regulatory proteins SERCA2a, Na+-Ca2+ exchanger and phospholamban.