OBJECTIVETo explore the effect of liraglutide on myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in rats and related mechanisms.

METHODSTwenty-four male SD rats were divided into sham group, I/R injury group, and liraglutide group by table of random number (n = 8 each). Myocardial I/R injury model was established by occlusion of the left anterior descending artery for 30 min followed by 2 h of reperfusion. HE stain method was used to observe cardiomyocyte status under light microscope, myocardial tissue samples were stained with TTC to measure the myocardial infarction size, protein expression of p53 and caspase-3 was analyzed by immunohistochemical technique and Western blot respectively, xanthine oxidase method was used to detect SOD activity, Thiobarbituric acid method was used to measure the concentration of MDA.

RESULTSCompared with the I/R group, the degree of myocardial damage of liraglutide group was significantly reduced and the myocardial infarct area was significantly lower ((44 ± 8) % vs. (62 ± 8) %, P<0.05) while protein expression of caspase-3 and p53 in liraglutide group was significantly downregulated (0.19 ± 0.03 vs. 0.24 ± 0.02 and 0.27 ± 0.03 vs. 0.39 ± 0.04, P<0.05). SOD activity was significantly increased and MDA concentration was significantly decreased (74.20 ± 11.10 vs. 44.04 ± 14.30 and 4.41 ± 1.07 vs. 8.72 ± 2.20, P<0.05) in liraglutide group compared to I/R group.

CONCLUSIONLiraglutide protects myocardium against I/R injury possibly through reducing cardiomyocytes apoptosis and oxidation.