Exendin-4 promotes retinal ganglion cell survival and function by inhibiting calcium channels in experimental diabetes.

ABSTRACT: Progressive damage of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) is observed in early diabetic retinopathy. Intracellular Ca²⁺ overload mediated by Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-gated Ca²⁺ channels (VGCCs) is involved in neurodegeneration, whereas glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) provides neuroprotection. However, whether GLP-1 plays a neuroprotective role in diabetic retinas by modulating VGCCs remains unknown. We found that eye drops of exendin-4, a long-acting GLP-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonist, prevented the increase of L-type Ca²⁺ current (I_LCa) densities of RGCs induced by 4-week hyperglycemia and promoted RGC survival by suppressing L-type VGCC (L-VGCC) activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Moreover, exendin-4-induced suppressio

SUBMITTER: Wang YC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10481356 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature