Effects of Exendin-4 on pancreatic islets function in treating hyperglycemia post severe scald injury in rats

Background It has been established that Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP 1) inhibits pancreatic β cell apoptosis, increases insulin secretion and improves glucose tolerance in scald injury. However, the effects of Exendin-4, a long-acting incretin similar to GLP 1, remained unclear in severe scald injury. Hence, this study attempted to investigate whether Exendin-4 had similar effects by protecting the histology of pancreas in severely scalded rats. Methods 162 adult Wistar rats were equally randomized to sham burn (SB) group, burn (B) group and burn with Exendin-4 treatment (BE) group. Rats were subjected to full skin thickness scald injuries (TBSA: 50%) and were injected subcutaneously with Exendin-4 (4 μg/kg) twice daily. The histological changes of islets, the apoptosis of β cells, the amount of glucagon and insulin and the concentration of plasma glucagon and insulin were observed; and the intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test was performed as well. Results: The islets and β cells were injured and the number of secretory granules decreased in the scalded rats, but less histopathological changes were seen in the rats treated with Exendin-4. The apoptosis index of treated rats was significantly lower than that of the scalded rats (P

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