Deficiency of adiponectin (APN), an adipocyte-derived vascular protective molecule, contributes to diabetic vascular injury. The current study determined whether obesity/hyperlipidemia may alter the vascular response to APN, and investigated the involved mechanisms and pathologic significance. Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a regular or high-fat diet (HF) for 4-16. weeks. Circulating APN levels, aortic pAMPK/AMPK, peNOS/eNOS, and APN receptor expression levels were determined. Compared to time-matched animals fed control diet, plasma APN levels in HF-diet animals were significantly increased at 8. weeks, and rapidly declined thereafter. Despite unchanged or elevated circulating APN levels, phosphorylated AMPK and eNOS in vascular tissue were significantly reduced at all observed time points. Recombinant full-length APN (rAPN)-induced AMPK/eNOS phosphorylation and vasodilatation were significantly reduced in 16-week obese/hyperlipidemic aortic segments. Vascular APN receptor 1 (AdipoR1) and receptor 2 (AdipoR2) expression were significantly reduced 16. weeks after HF-diet. Pre-incubation of rAPN with obese/hyperlipidemic plasma, but not with normal plasma, significantly reduced its AMPK and eNOS activation effect, and blunted its protective effect against TNFα-induced HUVEC apoptosis. This study demonstrated for the first time that obesity/hyperlipidemia reduces vascular responsiveness to APN. Modification/inactivation of APN by unidentified factors present in obese/hyperlipidemic plasma, decreased vascular AdipoR1/R2 expression, and reduced circulating APN levels contribute to reduced vascular responsiveness to APN at different stages of the obese condition. Reduced APN bioactivity allows unmitigated TNFα pro-apoptotic and pro-inflammatory actions, contributing to vascular injury in obesity/hyperlipidemia. © 2010 Elsevier Ltd.