Effects of microwave exposure on glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and its receptor and the relationship with learning and memory injury

In order to explore the effects of microwave exposure on GLP-1 and its receptor, the relationship between the changes of GLP-1 and its receptor and learning and memory injury induced by microwave exposure has been studied in this paper. Morris water maze was used to evaluate learning and memory ability of rats. The changes of the plasma GLP-1 level were measured by ELISA assay. Alteration of the GLP-1R mRNA expression in rat hippocampus was determined by RT-PCR and Apoptosis was detected by TUNEL. Our study showed that microwave exposure injured the learning and memory abilities of rats meanwhile plasma GLP-1 level was decreased and GLP-1R expression in hippocampus was down-regulated, which can be protected by pretreatment with GLP-1. Alterations in GLP-1 and GLP-1R are, at least partially, responsible for the microwave exposure induced learning and memory dysfunction and neuronal injury. These data provide some new clues to investigate the mechanisms of microwave exposure induced neuronal injury and develop clinical approaches for treatment of microwave exposure induced injury. It can provide some new ideals for investigation of related mechanism and development of clinical treatment under exposed microwave irradiation. (authors)