In both Notch3 KO and diabetic conditions, there was also an increase in the size of pericyte pegs.<h4>Conclusions</h4>As the Notch3 receptor plays an important role in cell signaling between pericytes and endothelial cells, and diabetes is also known to disrupt Notch3 signaling, our hypothesis for the enlarged peg phenotype is that the pericytes and endothelial cells actively increase their contact surface to compensate for loss of Notch3 signaling. This evidence concerns the gene NOTCH3 and diabetes mellitus.