Metformin ameliorates peripheral neuropathy in diabetic rats by downregulating autophagy via the AMPK pathway
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is an important complication of diabetes mellitus. Autophagy is considered to be potentially involved in the regulation of DN. Metformin is broadly utilized in the first-line treatment of diabetes. The present work aimed to assess whether and how metformin exerts protective effects in DN.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: A DN rat model induced by streptozotocin (STZ) was established. Metformin was administered to examine its effect on sciatic nerve pathology, and the possible mechanisms involved in this process were explored.
RESULTS: Morphological damage was observed in sciatic nerve samples from diabetic animals, accompanied by decreased p-AMPK expression and increased LC-3 levels. Notably, metformin ameliorated the morphological changes in the sciatic nerve by downregulating autophagy via p-AMPK upregulation.
CONCLUSIONS: These results indicate that metformin attenuates peripheral neuropathy in diabetic rats by regulating autophagy.
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