Central glucagon like peptide-1 inhibits reflex swallowing elicited by the superior laryngeal nerve via caudal brainstem in the rat

Abstract The effects of glucagon like peptide-1 (GLP-1) on reflex swallowing were examined using anaesthetized rats. GLP-1 was injected into the dorsal vagal complex (DVC) using glass micropipettes. Swallowing was induced by repeated electrical stimulation of the central cut end of the superior laryngeal nerve (SLN) and was identified by the electromyogram lead penetrated in the mylohyoide muscle through bipolar electrodes. Microinjection of GLP-1 into the medial DVC (M-DVC) increased the frequency of swallowing during the electrical stimulation of the SLN and extended the latency of the first swallowing. Microinjection of GLP-1 into the lateral DVC (L-DVC) did not change the frequency of swallowing or the latency of the first swallowing. Neither the injection of vehicle into the M-DVC nor L-DVC affected swallowing frequency. Pre-injection of exendin (5-39), a GLP-1 receptor antagonist, attenuated the degree of suppression of swallowing frequency induced by the administration of GLP-1 in addition to shortening the latency of the first swallowing. To identify the effective site of GLP-1, lesion experiments were performed. Electrical lesion of the commissural part of the NTS (cNTS) and the vacuum removal of the area postrema (AP) did not affect the inhibition of reflex swallowing induced by the injection of GLP-1 into the M-DVC. Electrical lesion of the medial nucleus of the NTS (mNTS) and its vicinity abolished the inhibitory effects of swallowing induced by the injection of GLP-1. These results suggest that GLP-1 inhibits reflex swallowing via the mNTS in the dorsal medulla.