Neuroprotective Effects of rhGLP-1 in Diabetic Rats with Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury.

Preclinical Research The aim of the present study was to evaluate the neuroprotective benefits of rhGLP-1 in diabetic rats subjected to acute cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion/reperfusion (MCAO/R). Streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats were pretreated with rhGLP-1 (10, 20, or 40 μg/kg ip, tid) for 14 days. During this time, body weight and fasting blood glucose levels were assessed. Rats were then subjected to MCAO 90 min/R 24 h. At 2 and 24 h of reperfusion, rats were evaluated for neurological deficits and blood samples were collected to analyze markers of brain injury. Rats were then sacrificed to assess the infarction volume. rhGLP-1 pretreatment lowered blood glucose levels, improved neurological scores, attenuated infarct volumes, and reduced the blood levels of S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B), neuron-specific enolase (NSE), and myelin basic protein (MBP). rhGLP-1 has neuroprotective benefits in diabetic rats with cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury and could potentially be used as a prophylatic neuroprotectant in diabetic patients at high risk of ischemic stroke. Drug Dev Res 77 : 124-133, 2016.   © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.