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Updated: Mar 28, 2026
Porcine Model of Infrarenal Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
Published on: November 21, 2019
Glucagon-like peptide-1 prevented abdominal aortic aneurysm development in rats
Jie Yu1, Keisuke Morimoto1, Wulan Bao1
1Department of Surgery, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery, Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine, 7-5-2, Kusunoki-Cho, Chuo-Ku, Kobe, Hyogo, 650-0017, Japan.
Purpose:
To demonstrate the protective effect of glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) signaling on the cardiovascular system, we conducted this study to show that the GLP-1 receptor analog (lixisenatide) could inhibit abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development in rats.
Methods:
Lixisenatide was injected subcutaneously 7 days after aneurysm preparation. We evaluated reactive oxygen species (ROS) expression by dihydroethidium staining and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG; the oxidation product of DNA) by immunohistochemical staining. We also analyzed the effect of GLP-1 signaling on the inflammatory response. Histopathological examination was done on day 28, and the AAA dilatation ratio was calculated.
Results:
On day 14, ROS expression and 8-OHdG-positive cells in the aneurysm walls were seen to have been significantly decreased by lixisenatide treatment. Western blot analysis showed decreased ERK expression. There was significantly reduced tumor necrosis factor-α mRNA expression in the aneurysm walls and CD68-positive cell infiltration in the aneurysm walls. On day 28, it was evident that the lixisenatide had dramatically reduced aneurysm development in the rats.
Conclusion:
GLP-1 elevation inhibits AAA development in rats through its anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Thus, GLP-1 could be a potent pharmacological target for AAA treatment.
