The decrease in HO-1 expression and activity in aortic tissue in the present work agrees with the work of Abraham et al., (2004)[53] who reported that the decrease in HO-1 gene expression and activity in aortic tissues observed with hyperglycemia in experimental diabetes is associated with an increase in shedding of endothelial cells into the circulation, presumably reflecting cell damage. The gene discussed is HMOX1; the disease is diabetes mellitus.