Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in Rats Subjected to High Fructose (80%) Diet for One Month Counteracts Hypertension and Compromised Optic Disc Head Circulation and Following Atrophy
Authors: Radevski Filip , Peraic Pavla , Masek Tomislav , Starcevic Kristina , Krezic Ivan , Pavlov Katarina Horvat , Drmic Domagoj , Kralj Tamara , Seiwerth Sven , Sikiric Predrag , Kokot Antonio 
Published: June 2021

We documented that stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in rats subjected to the high fructose (80%) diet for one month counteracts hypertension and compromised optic disc head circulation and following atrophy. BPC 157 (LD1 not achieved) was implemented as an anti‐ulcer peptide in IBD trials and now in a multiple sclerosis trial (Curr Pharm Des 2018;24(18):1990–2001). BPC 157 may regulate blood pressure, providing that it largely interacts with NO‐system, and it counteracts L‐NAME‐hypertension as well as L‐arginine‐hypertension. Also, BPC 157 counteracts adverse effect of the insulin‐over‐dose, which may be important providing insulin‐over release causing hypertension in rats on high fructose (80%) diet (J Physiol Pharmacol 2009;60 Suppl 7:107–14). To date, BPC 157 maintained corneal transparency, total debridement of corneal epithelium cured with no corneal neovascularization, perforating corneal incisions in rats successfully closed and no new vessels, providing a particular healing and vascular effect (Eur J Pharmacol 2016;771:211–9; Exp Eye Res 2015;136:9–15). Likewise, in glaucoma model (rats with episcleral veins cauterization), BPC 157 counteracts increased intraocular pressure (IOP), preserves retinal and optic nerve integrity (FASEB J 2016;30 (Suppl 1), 1201.4.; 2017;31 (Suppl 1), 666.2). In the present study, at the end of the 1 month period of the high fructose (80%) diet, in control rats (with main blood pressure ranging 130–155 mmHg), we documented very pale optic disc head with well‐defined outer borders. In addition, excavation noticed suggests compromised optic disc head circulation and following atrophy. Very thin arteries and very thick and full of blood veins appear, resulting in arterial/vein diameter ratio about 1/4. Reduced background red reflex and brightness from choroid appears evidencing decreased blood flow and decreased choroidal blood filling. Contrarily, in rats that in addition to high fructose (80%) diet, received BPC 157 in drinking water (10 ng/kg/rat/day) and presented with mean blood pressure ranging 113–125 mmHg for one month, all of this changes are markedly attenuated. Optic disc head appears more vivid and healthy without no so much compromised circulation, arterial/vein diameter ratio is about 3/4 which looks more normal and physiological (Figure 1, control (right); BPC 157 (left)). Choroid in rats drinking BPC 157 is much brighter with the most intense red color and reflex. Note, in rats with high (80%) fructose diet, in the more prolonged period, BPC 157 also counteracts Langerhans islands hyperplasia. In conclusion, BPC 157 therapy may be further hypertension therapy. This may be particularly the case in the condition of the vascular obstruction providing its particular effect on endothelium integrity and reestablishing blood flow continuity (Vascul Pharmacol 2018;106:54–66; WJG 2017;23(48):8465–88).Support or Funding InformationGrant No. 108‐1083570‐3635, MZOS, Republic of CroatiaThis abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.