Diabetic eNOS knockout mice develop distinct macro- and microvascular complications.

Functional consequences of impaired endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) activity causing organ-specific abnormalities on a diabetic setting are not completely understood. In this study, we extensively characterized a diabetic mouse model (lepr(db/db)) in which eNOS expression is genetically disrupted (eNOS-/-). The eNOS-/-/ lepr(db/db) double-knockout (DKO) mice developed obesity, hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and hypertension.