A new class of insulin sensitizing agents, the thiazolidinediones, have been shown to possess, in addition to their numerous metabolic roles, positive effects on blood pressure and on vascular endothelial function, including decreased endothelin-1 production and reduced circulating levels of endothelial surface molecules. Based on these data, we plan to investigate the hypothesis that thiazolidinediones may improve both insulin resistance and endothelial dysfunction in essential hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. We hypothesize that treatment with rosiglitazone improves endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation in both conductance and resistance vessels, decreases vascular endothelin-1 activity and reduces plasma levels of leptin and of markers of endothelial activation.