Glucagon-like peptide-1 protects synaptic and learning functions from neuroinflammation in rodents

J Neurosci Res. 2014 Apr;92(4):446-54. doi: 10.1002/jnr.23335. Epub 2014 Jan 27.

Abstract

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is derived from the processing of proglucagon in intestinal L-cells and releases insulin from pancreatic β-cells as an incretin. The GLP-1 receptor has been proposed as a possible therapeutic target for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease, in which neuroinflammation is critical in the pathogenesis. The present study investigates whether GLP-1 (7-36) amide, an active fragment of GLP-1, protected against synaptic impairments induced by inflammation-related injurious agents (lipopolysaccharide [LPS], interleukin-1β [IL-1β], and H2 O2). In the Y-maze test, LPS (10 μg/mouse, i.c.v) significantly decreased the percentage alternation. Pretreatment with GLP-1 (7-36) amide (0.09-0.9 nmol/mouse, i.c.v.) prevented an impairment in spontaneous alternation performance. Pretreatment with LPS (10 μg/ml, 2 hr) impaired LTP induction but not paired-pulse facilitation in the CA1 region of rat hippocampal slices. This impairment was prevented by cotreatment with GLP-1 (7-36) amide (50 nM). IL-1β (0.57 nM) or H2 O2 (50 μM) also impaired LTP induction. This impairment was prevented by GLP-1 (7-36) amide (50 nM). These results suggest that GLP-1 (7-36) amide improves the synaptic impairments induced by inflammation-related injurious agents in the CA1 region of the hippocampus.

Keywords: GLP-1; LTP; hydrogen peroxide; inflammation; interleukin-1.

MeSH terms

  • Analysis of Variance
  • Animals
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Electric Stimulation
  • Encephalitis / chemically induced
  • Encephalitis / complications*
  • Excitatory Postsynaptic Potentials / drug effects
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / pharmacology*
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 / therapeutic use*
  • Hippocampus / cytology
  • Hydrogen Peroxide / adverse effects
  • In Vitro Techniques
  • Learning Disabilities / drug therapy*
  • Learning Disabilities / pathology
  • Lipopolysaccharides / toxicity
  • Long-Term Potentiation / drug effects*
  • Long-Term Potentiation / physiology
  • Male
  • Maze Learning / drug effects
  • Motor Activity / drug effects
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Synapses / drug effects*

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • Glucagon-Like Peptide 1
  • Hydrogen Peroxide