Perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) is known to modulate vascular tone. We have demonstrated that impaired vasodilation is masked by the presence of PVAT at 20 weeks of age (wks) in the mesenteric arteries of SHRSP.Z-Lepr^fa/IzmDmcr rats (SHRSP.ZF) with metabolic syndrome (MetS); this enhanced vasodilation caused by PVAT disappears at 30 wks. Therefore, we investigated whether the compensatory effect of PVAT is observed at another vascular site in SHRSP.ZF and whether it differs from that in Zucker fatty rats, another animal model of MetS. In the renal arteries of SHRSP.ZF, acetylcholine-induced vasodilation was unchanged by the presence of PVAT at 20 wks, while an increase in the relaxation caused by PVAT was observed at 30 wks. In contrast, in Zucker fatty rats, PVAT did not affect vasodilation at 20 wks, while there was slightly increased relaxation at 30 wks. This study indicates that renal arterial PVAT has compensatory effects on impaired vasodilation in SHRSP.ZF, similar to that observed in the mesenteric artery, and this influence is consistent with that in Zucker fatty rats. PVAT may have an important role in retaining blood circulation, especially in the arteries supplying blood to organs such as the kidneys, in MetS.