The important findings from this study was that 12 weeks of treatment of obese Zucker rats, an animal model of metabolic syndrome, with AVE7688, a vasopeptidase inhibitor that simultaneously inhibits angiotensin converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase activity, improves microvascular and nerve functions as well as impaired pain perception in animals 32 weeks of age. The gene discussed is MME; the disease is metabolic syndrome.