DDAH2 exerts a protective effect on cardiac function in diabetic rats with myocardial fibrosis. (A) LVEDP level in diabetic rats following 12 weeks of treatment with lentivirus expressing DDAH2 or shDDAH2, and/or L-NNA. (B) LVSP level in diabetic rats following 12 weeks of treatment with lentivirus expressing DDAH2 or shDDAH2, and/or L-NNA. (C) LV + dp/dt level in diabetic rats following 12 weeks of treatment with lentivirus expressing DDAH2 or shDDAH2, and/or L-NNA. (D) LV-dp/dt level in diabetic rats following 12 weeks of treatment with lentivirus expressing DDAH2 or shDDAH2, and/or L-NNA. Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation and analyzed by the one-way analysis of variance. All data are representative of three independent experiments. n=5. *P<0.05, vs. model group. DDAH2, dimethylarginine dimethylaminohydrolase 2; NC, negative control; sh, short hairpin RNA; LVEDP, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, LVSP, left ventricular systolic pressure, LV ± dp/dt, maximum rate of left ventricular pressure rise/fall.