title: The synthetic GLP-I receptor agonist, exenatide, reduces intimal hyperplasia in insulin resistant rats.
abstract: We studied the effect of a synthetic GLP-1 receptor agonist, exenatide, a drug approved for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, on the recovery from vascular injury in Zucker (non-diabetic) fatty rats. Exenatide 5.0 microg/kg per day or saline was administered for seven days before, and 21 days after balloon catheter mediated carotid injury. A pair feeding experiment helped differentiate between the drug itself and the known effects of the drug on decreased food intake. Body weight and glucose (weekly), carotid artery I/M ratio, aortic protein eNOS and NFkappaB-p65 were measured. Body weight gain in exenatide rats was significantly lower (53+/-5 vs. 89+/-8 g) than controls. Blood glucose did not change significantly. The I/M ratio in the exenatide group was 0.2+/-0.1 vs. 0.9+/-0.1 in controls (p<0.05). The expression of aortic eNOS was unchanged in exenatide treated rats and a small decrease seen in NFkappaB-p65 expression was not statistically significant. We conclude that exenatide attenuates intimal hyperplasia following balloon catheter induced vascular injury independently of glucose regulation and food intake. Our findings provide additional support for cardiovascular benefits of exenatide, especially in obese and pre-diabetic patients. Further research is needed to elucidate the mechanism underlying these effects.
authors.affiliation: Section of Endocrinology, Tulane University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
authors.forename: Subramanyam N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Murthy
authors.forename: Rose-Claire St
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Hilaire
authors.forename: David B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Casey
authors.forename: Adeleke M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Badejo
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: McGee
authors.forename: Dennis B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: McNamara
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Kadowitz
authors.forename: Vivian A
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology; D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D000077270:Exenatide; D005260:Female; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000517:prevention & control; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000378:metabolism; D010455:Peptides / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D051381:Rats; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon / Q000819:agonists*; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA / Q000378:metabolism; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D014688:Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: C000593835:Glp1r protein, rat; D000067757:Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor; D010455:Peptides; D018027:Receptors, Glucagon; C498145:Rela protein, rat; D051996:Transcription Factor RelA; D014688:Venoms; D000077270:Exenatide; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat