Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 Counteracts Hypertension and Compromised Optic Disc Circulation and Following Atrophy in Rats Subjected to High Fructose Diet

INTRODUCTION We sought to determine whether stable gastric pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in rats subjected to a high fructose diet counteracts hypertension and compromised optic disc circulation and following atrophy. METHODS: Rats were put on a high fructose (80%) diet during a 1 month period. The treated group received BPC 157 in drinking water (10 ng/kg/rat/day). Their blood pressure was regularly measured, and they were subjected to ocular fundus examination. RESULTS At the end of the 1 month period, in control rats, with a mean blood pressure of 146 mmHg, we observed a pale optic disc with well-defined outer borders. In addition, the excavation noticed suggests compromised optic disc circulation and atrophy. Very thin arteries and thick hyperemic veins appeared, resulting in an arterial/vein diameter ratio of about 1/4. An abnormal red reflex and reduced brightness from the choroid suggests a decreased blood flow and choroidal blood filling. Contrarily, in the treated group of rats, who presented with a mean blood pressure of about 132 mmHg, all these changes were significantly attenuated. The optic disc appeared more vivid and healthier with less compromised circulation, and the arterial/vein diameter ratio was about 3/4. The choroid in rats drinking BPC 157 was brighter and with a more pronounced shade of red. CONCLUSION BPC 157 may be considered for treating hypertension, particularly when vascular obstruction is present

Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy in rats with cysteamine induced-terminal ileitis

We introduce pentadecapeptide BPC 157 therapy in rats with cysteamine induced-terminal ileitis 1h/1month/2months. We counteracted gross hyperemia, edema, erosion, bleeding, microscopically significant loss of villous architecture, loss and shortening of villae and severe lymphocytic infiltrate. Pentadecapeptide counteracts various lesions in the whole GI-tract and free radical formation, and tested in ulcerative colitis trials and now in multiple sclerosis. Cysteamine was known to induce gastric-acid hypersecretion as a prototype of duodenal lesion. Cysteamine induced duodenal lesions after gastrectomy, and applied as an enema, ulcerative colitis in rats Cysteamine was applied in female Albino Wistar rats into the terminal ileum, 5 cm segment up to ileocecal valve, which was kept gently compressed for 1 min, and then released. Medication(BPC, or saline (controls)) was applied as an abdominal bath immediately after the end of the cysteamine application procedure, and then if rats were not sacrificed at 1 h, continuously, perorally in drinking water till the end of 1 or 2 months The hyperemia, edema, erosion and bleeding scores were summarized. Microscopically, cysteamine induced terminal ileitis presents with: submucosal congestion, significant loss of villous architecture, loss and shortening of villae and lamina propria infiltrated with mild to severe lymphocytic infiltrate, much like intraepithelial lymphocyte infiltration and some epithelial elevation from lamina propria. Better preservation of mucosal architecture appears in pentadecapeptide treated rats. There is only mild villous edema with capillary congestion and mild lymphocytic infiltrate. No epithelial elevation from lamina propria For further therapy, beneficial effect of the BPC counteracts cysteamine- terminal ileitis

Stable Gastric Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 in Rats with Episcleral Veins Cauterization, Glaucoma Model, Preserved Retinal and Optic Nerve Integrity

BPC 157 (LD1 not achieved) was implemented as an anti-ulcer peptide in IBD trials and now in a multiple sclerosis trial. 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. We wanted to explore effect of BPC 157 in rats with glaucoma, induced by episcleral veins cauterization. Randomly assigned operated male Wistar rats, 250g (two dorsal episcleral veins and one temporal episcleral vein isolated from the surrounding tissues; a cautery specifically applied to the selected vein), were further studied. Medication (pentadecapeptide BPC 157 (10μg/kg) (Diagen, Slovenia) intraperitoneally) or an equivolume of 0.9%NaCl (5ml/kg) intraperitoneally (controls)) was applied immediately after surgery, and then once time daily. Histopathological retinal and optic nerve samples were obtained after sacrifice at 24h, 4 and 6-weeks interval. At 24h, 4 and 6 weeks after surgery controls exhibited ganglion cell layer and optic nerve thinning. All BPC 157 rats exhibited only slight or none ganglion cell layer or optic nerve thinning. Pentadecapeptide BPC 157 continuously counteracts the effects of episcleral veins cauterization on morphological changes of ganglion cell layer and optic nerve