At 16 weeks of HFD, when robust glucose intolerance occurs together with β-cell apoptosis [39, 42], both angiopoietin receptors Tie-1 and Tie-2 were upregulated (1.5- and 1.8-fold, compared to ND control, Fig 1E), which remained higher after 24 weeks HFD (Fig 1F). This evidence concerns the gene TIE1 and Glucose intolerance.