Commentary - The fatter the better? Perivascular adipose tissue attenuates vascular contraction through different mechanisms

Adipose tissue releases several hormones and autacoids and expansion of the adipose tissue and excessive obesity is a risk factor for hypertension. Perivascular adipose tissue, on the other hand, has been reported to lower the vascular tone through the release of a transferable, thermosensitive, non-lipid factor. In this issue of the British Journal of Pharmacology, Gao et al. ( 2007) report that a factor generated by the adipose tissue also stimulates the generation of NO by endothelium and that NO is the predominant mediator of adipose tissue- induced relaxation in endothelium- intact vessels ( 88 words). British Journal of Pharmacology ( 2007).