Recent studies implicate channels of the transient receptor potential vanilloid family (e.g., TRPV1) in regulating vascular tone; however, little is known about these channels in the coronary circulation. Further, it is unclear whether metabolic syndrome alters the function and/or expression of TRPV1. We tested the hypothesis that TRPV1 mediates coronary vasodilation through endothelial-dependent mechanisms which are impaired by the metabolic syndrome. Studies were conducted on coronary arteries from lean and obese male Ossabaw miniature swine. In lean pigs, capsaicin, a TRPV1 agonist, relaxed arteries in a dose-dependent manner (EC₅₀ = 116 ± 41 nM). Capsaicin-induced relaxation was blocked by the TRPV1 antagonist capsazepine, endothelial denudation, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase, and K⁺ channel antagonists. Capsaicin-induced relaxation was impaired in rings from pigs with metabolic syndrome (91 ± 4 vs. 51 ± 10% relaxation at 100 µM). TRPV1 immunoreactivity was prominent in coronary endothelial cells. TRPV1 protein expression was decreased 40 ± 11% in obese pigs. Capsaicin (100 µM) elicited divalent cation influx that was abolished in endothelial cells from obese pigs. These data indicate that TRPV1 channels are functionally expressed in the coronary circulation and mediate endothelium-dependent vasodilation through a mechanism involving NO and K⁺ channels. Impaired capsaicin-induced vasodilation in the metabolic syndrome is associated with decreased expression of TRPV1 and cation influx.