The present invention relates to the use of a plasmid encoding a fibroblast growth factor as therapeutic agent for the prevention and treatment of hypercholesterolemia or diabetes associated myocardial or skeletal angiogenic defects. The present invention also relates to a method for enhancing formation of both collateral blood vessels and arterioles in myocardial or skeletal ischemic tissues in a mammalian subject suffering from hypercholesterolemia or diabetes. The present invention further relates to a method of promoting collateral blood vessels in ischemic myocardial or skeletal tissues without inducing VEGF-A factor expression and causing edema in the treated muscles.