Novel incretin analogues including exendin-4 were found to improve autophagy and protect from mitochondrial stress induced by a toxic mitochondrial complex I inhibitor, rotenone in dopaminergic SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells, increasing the survival of SH-SY5Y cells [
22]. Peripheral administration of GLP-1R agonists increased the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-containing neurons [
23]. TH is core enzyme in the pathway of dopamine synthesis. Exenatide was also found to protect dopaminergic neurons towards 6-OHDA and MPTP toxicity, increasing dopamine levels and improving motor abilities in diabetic rats with MPTP induced PD [
24,
25,
26,
27,
28]. Moreover, continuous exendin-4 administration had a protective effect on cognitive-related neurotransmission systems and decreased the death of hippocampal neurons induced by injection of toxin lipopolysaccharide in mice [
29]. In a parkinsonian rat model of α-synucleinopathy, exendin-4 alleviated TH-positive neuronal loss and terminal denervation, affected the expression of a functional component of monoaminergic neurotransmission, vesicular monoamine transporter 2, in the nigrostriatal dopaminergic systems of rats, and improved motor symptoms [
30]. In another mouse model a modified form of exenatide (NLY01) protected against the loss of dopaminergic neurons [
31]. Interestingly, in a comparison dual agonist DA5-CH and NLY01 MPTP mouse model study, the dual agonist was found to be more effective compared to NLY01, regarding PD pathology [
32]. A sustained- release exenatide agent, PT302 was found to sustain dopaminergic neurons after 6-OHDA lesioning in rats, however this result was not replicated in another study [
33,
34]. Interestingly, in a recent study, in a PD mouse model, early treatment with PT320 ameliorated L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia, highlighting its possible denervation effect [
35]. Notably, in another study lixisenatide and liraglutide were found to be more effective regarding protection against MPTP-induced dopaminergic degeneration compared to exenatide [
36], however these results need to be replicated [
37]. In a recent MPTP PD mouse study, both exendin-4 and linagliptin reversed motor dysfunction, glial activation, and dopaminergic neuronal death [
38]. Interestingly, once weekly administration of semaglutide was more efficient compared to once-daily liraglutide in restoring TH levels in MPTP-treated mice [
39,
40]. Neuroprotective effects were also observed for a novel GLP-1 analogue with a longer serum half-life than exendin-4, Val(8)GLP-1-GluPal in a mouse MPTP PD model [
41]. Moreover, in a rotenone model of PD, sitagliptin and liraglutide improved motor performance, reversed rotenone-induced nigral neuronal loss, inhibiting the inflammatory-apoptotic degenerative process [
42,
43].
Regarding dual GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists, DA-JC1 has been observed to have a neuroprotective effect in a MPTP mouse model [
44,
45,
46], as well as in a cell culture experiment, in SH-SY5Y cells with ROT-induced mitochondrial stress [
22] which was also superior to older GLP-1 analogs [
47]. In another MPTP mouse study, DA3-CH was better compared to liraglutide in rescuing TH levels [
48]. In a recent study, DA5-CH was more effective compared to semaglutide regarding the protection of dopaminergic neurons, the suppression of inflammation and the increase in TH expression in the substantia nigra. Aggregation of a-synuclein was reduced by both drugs, as well as insulin resistance with DA5-CH displaying better results [
49]. In ROT-lesioned rats the dual GLP-1R/GIPR agonist could improve motor symptoms of PD, too [
50]. In a comparison MPTP PD mouse model study comparing liraglutide with DA-JC1, DA-JC4 and DA-CH5 at the same dose, DA-JC4 and DA-CH5 were most effective [
51,
52]. Moreover, DA-CH5 was found to be more effective compared to NLY01, as well in suppressing neurodegeneration and inflammation [
53].