Sex-Related Differences in Microvascular Adaptations to Obesity

Capillaries within skeletal muscle and adipose tissue have a critical role in the maintenance of proper tissue function. A reduction in capillary density is correlated with impairments in metabolism. The susceptibility to develop obesity-related metabolic disturbances differs between males and females. The goal of this study was to determine if sex differences exist in skeletal muscle and adipose tissue microvascular content and to relate these to the development of metabolic dysregulations in mice fed a normal chow (NC) or a high-fat (HF) diet. Following 16 weeks of diet, skeletal muscle and adipose response to insulin was maintained in HF female but not HF male mice. In the muscle, this was accompanied by higher levels of PECAM-1 in HF females. However, no significant difference in capillary distribution was established. Microvascular content in the visceral adipose was reduced in HF males, but maintained in HF females which also had a healthier adipokine profile. This was further supported by higher PECAM-1 and VEGF-A levels in HF females vs. HF male mice. These results provide evidence that sex-related differences exist in the angiogenic responses to a HF diet.