PCNA and diabetes mellitus: Figure 3E showed that the fluorescence intensity of PCNA positive cells was less in sponges of T2D, as compared to corresponding control values. Together, the current findings denote that the processes involved in capillary formation in connection with blood vessel function are attenuated during the course of diabetes. Indeed, blood vessels indicated by arrows predominate in control but not in diabetic sponge sections (Figure 2A).