Preservation of the Blood Brain Barrier and Cortical Neuronal Tissue by Liraglutide, a Long Acting Glucagon-Like-1 Analogue, after Experimental Traumatic Brain Injury

• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120074
• Publication Date: 2015-03-31T12:18:11Z
• Authors: Jakob Hakon; Karsten Ruscher; Bertil Romner; Gregor Tomasevic
• Keywords: Extravasation; Cerebral edema; Sham surgery; Evans Blue

Cerebral edema is a common complication following moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), significant risk factor for development of neuronal death deterioration neurological outcome. To this date, medical approaches that effectively alleviate cerebral after TBI are not available. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) has anti-inflammatory properties on endothelium exerts neuroprotective effects. Here, we investigated the effects GLP-1 secondary TBI. Male Sprague Dawley rats were subjected either to by Controlled Cortical Impact (CCI) or sham surgery. After surgery, vehicle analogue, Liraglutide, administered subcutaneously twice daily two days. Treatment with Liraglutide (200 μg/kg) significantly reduced in pericontusional regions improved sensorimotor function 48 hours CCI. The integrity blood-brain barrier was markedly preserved treated animals, as determined extravasation Evans blue conjugated albumin. Furthermore, cortical tissue loss, but did affect loss delayed thalamus day 7 post injury. Together, our data suggest pathway might be promising target therapy