Revascularization and muscle adaptation to limb demand ischemia in diet-induced obese mice.

Background: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are major risk factors for peripheral arterial disease in humans, which can result in lower limb demand ischemia and exercise intolerance. Exercise triggers skeletal muscle adaptation including increased vasculogenesis. The goal of this study was to determine whether demand ischemia modulates revascularization, fiber size, and signaling pathways in the ischemic hind limb muscles of mice with diet-induced obesity (DIO).