Adiponectin is secreted by adipose cells and mimics many metabolic actions of insulin.
However, mechanisms by which adiponectin acts are poorly understood. The vascular
action of insulin to stimulate endothelial production of nitric oxide (NO), leading to
vasodilation and increased blood flow is an important component of insulin-stimulated
whole body glucose utilization. Therefore, we hypothesized that adiponectin may also
stimulate production of NO in endothelium. Bovine aortic endothelial cells in primary culture …