Direct effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 on myocardial contractility and glucose uptake in normal and postischemic isolated rat hearts

Recent evidence suggests that glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) enhances recovery of left ventricular (LV) function after transient coronary artery occlusion. However, it is uncertain whether GLP-1 has direct effects on normal or ischemic myo-cardium and whether the mechanism involves increased myo-cardial glucose uptake. LV function and myocardial glucose uptake and lactate production were measured under basal conditions and after 30 min of low-flow ischemia and 30 min of reperfusion in the presence and absence of GLP-1-(7–36) amide. The response was compared with standard buffer alone or buffer containing insulin (100 U/ml). GLP-1 decreased the left ventricular developed pressure (baseline: 100 2 mm Hg; GLP-1: 75 3 mm Hg, p 0.05) and LV dP/dt (baseline