Interestingly, in a rat model of early-stage DM, there was a trend toward upregulation of ROCK1 and ROCK2 expression, and a larger effect of ROCK inhibition (with fasudil) in the presence of NOS and cyclooxygenase blockade; furthermore, fasudil inhibited the occurrence of focal and segmental constrictions [44]. This evidence concerns the gene ROCK2 and diabetes mellitus.