Endothelial dysfunction is often observed in disease states such as hypertension and obesity, we therefore investigated the role of Kir6.1-containing KATP channels in the functional regulation of blood flow when WT and eKO mice were on a HS or high fat (HF) diet for a prolonged period of time. This evidence concerns the gene KCNJ8 and obesity due to melanocortin 4 receptor deficiency.