Activation of genes inducing cell-cycle arrest and of increased DNA repair in the hearts of rats with early streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus.

Background: Oxidative stress was proposed as a critical factor in diabetic complications. The etiology of cell degeneration in diabetes mellitus (DM)-induced cardiomyopathy is unclear. The transition between apoptotic degeneration and cell proliferation under stress conditions is regulated at cell-cycle checkpoints.