Evaluation of the pathogenesis of DCM in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model demonstrates that downregulation of myocardial VEGF expression preceded all other features of DCM and followed the order of increased apoptosis of endothelial cells, decreased numbers of circulating endothelial progenitor cells, decreased capillary density, and impaired myocardial perfusion along with apoptosis and necrosis of cardiomyocytes, fibrosis and progressive heart dysfunction (38). Here, VEGFA is linked to familial dilated cardiomyopathy.