541-P: Glucagon Prevents Rat Dorsal Root Ganglion Neurons from Cell Stress Induced by Methylglyoxal

Background: Glucagon is a peptide hormone produced by the alpha cells of the pancreas. Other than gluconeogenesis, glucagon has many pleiotropic effects on feeding, energy expenditure, and thermogenesis. Our recent studies revealed that glucagon promoted neurite outgrowth in a primary culture of mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Therefore, glucagon might have a neuroprotective function in the peripheral nervous system. To clarify the protective function, we use an immortalized rat embryonic DRG neuronal cell line 50B11 as an in vitro model to study the effects of glucagon in DRG neurons. Methods: Expression of glucagon receptor in the DRG neurons was examined by RT-PCR. The cells were cultured with or without glucagon (10-8, 10-10 M) for 24 hours. To reproduce the cell stress, cells were cultured with methylglyoxal (MG). Cell cytotoxicity was examined by lactate dehydrogenase assay. Cell viability was evaluated using the MTS assay. The apoptosis was also examined by APOPercentageTM dye. Result: Glucagon receptor was expressed in the 50B11 cell line. The glucagon itself had no effect on cytotoxicity in the cells. The cell viability decreased by MG was significantly increased in the group treated with glucagon. The ratio of apoptotic cells, which was increased by MG, was decreased in the group treated with glucagon. Conclusion: Glucagon may have a protective role in DRG neurons. Further investigation is necessary to determine the detailed action of glucagon in DRG neurons. Disclosure M. Mohiuddin: Other Relationship; Self; Abbott Japan Co. Ltd, ARKRAY, Astellas Pharma Inc., Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca K.K., Boehlinger Ingelheim Japan Co. Ltd., Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Daiichi Sankyo, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Fukuda Denshi, Japan Tobacco Inc., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kowa pharmaceu. co. Ltd., Kowa Pharmaceu. Co., Ltd., Kyowa Kirin Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD K.K., MSD K.K., Mylan N. V., Novartis Pharma K.K., Novartis Pharma K.K., Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., Ono Pharmaceu. Co., Ltd., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Pfizer Japan Inc., Sanofi K.K., Sanofi K.K., Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Terumo Co. Ltd. M. Motegi: None. R. Inoue: None. T. Mizuno: None. K. Suzuki: None. S. Asano: None. T. Hayami: None. Y. Hayashi: None. M. Kato: None. E. Miura-Yura: None. H. Shimoda: None. Y. Morishita: None. T. Himeno: None. M. Kondo: None. S. Tsunekawa: None. Y. Kato: None. H. Kamiya: Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca K.K., Boehringer Ingelheim K.K., Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Fukuda Denshi, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kowa Company, Ltd., Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD K.K., Novartis Pharma K.K., Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Sanofi K.K., Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. J. Nakamura: Research Support; Self; Astellas Pharma Inc., Boehlinger Ingelheim Japan Co., Ltd., Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Japan Tobacco Inc., Kaken Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kowa Company, Ltd., Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD K.K., Novartis Pharma K.K., Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd., Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Pfizer Japan Inc., Sanofi K.K., Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Shionogi & Co., Ltd., Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited. Speaker’s Bureau; Self; Abbott Japan Co., Ltd., ARKRAY, Astellas Pharma Inc., AstraZeneca K.K., Boehlinger Ingelheim Japan Co., Ltd.,, Daiichi Sankyo, Eli Lilly Japan K.K., Fukuda Denshi, Kissei Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Kowa Company, Ltd., Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, MSD K.K., Mylan, Novartis Pharma K.K., Novo Nordisk Pharma Ltd, Ono Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Sanofi, Sanwa Kagaku Kenkyusho, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co., Ltd., Taisho Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited, Terumo Medical Corporation.