GLUCAGON-LIKE PEPTIDE-1 PROTECTS AGAINST CARDIAC DYSFUNCTION AND EXTRACELLULAR MATRIX REMODELLING IN EXPERIMENTAL DIABETES

Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) is an insulin-releasing hormone with established cardiovascular actions. Here, we investigated effects of exendin-4, a stable GLP-1 mimetic, on cardiac remodelling in experimental diabetes. Male C57BL/6J mice were injected with streptozotocin (STZ; 50 mg/kg/day for 5 days) or vehicle control prior to starting infusion with exendin-4 (25 nmol/kg/day) at 4 weeks. Continuous treatment with exendin-4 for 8 weeks had no effect on body weight but reduced blood glucose in STZ-treated animals (HbA1c: control 6.6±0.3 vs STZ saline 11.8±1.1, p