Consistent with a previous study (24), the untreated DM rats in the present study were characterized by a decreased or attenuated antioxidant defense, as shown by the decreased SOD activity, accompanied with increased myocardial lipid peroxidation and inactivation of prosurvival pathways of Bcl-2, eventually culminating in cell apoptosis and increased levels of inflammation. The gene discussed is SOD1; the disease is diabetes mellitus.