II. ET-1 inhibition: BQ 123 is an antagonist of the ETA receptor and has been used to research ET-1 signaling in diabetes, obesity, and hypertension. ETA receptors are the most likely to mediate excessive constriction in MetSyn patients. Infusion of BQ123 will take place at 0.51 mg/kg/hr for ~15 min bolus. Systemic delivery of BQ123 has been shown to decrease systolic blood pressure 4.5±10 mmHg and diastolic 3 ± 7.5 mmHg in hypertensives, and not alter mean arterial pressure in obesity.