title: Effect of metformin on glucose metabolism in mouse soleus muscle.
abstract: To investigate the antihyperglycaemic effect of metformin (dimethylbiguanide), insulin binding and glucose metabolism were examined in soleus muscles isolated from streptozotocin diabetic mice. Treatment with metformin (250 mg/kg/day orally for 3 weeks) reduced by 39% the severity of streptozotocin-induced hyperglycaemia. Soleus muscles of metformin treated mice showed a 41% increase in total insulin receptor number, and a 20% increase in 3-0-methylglucose uptake at both submaximally and maximally stimulating insulin concentrations. Oxidation of U-14C-glucose to 14CO2 and the formation of 14C-glycogen were increased by 25% and 30% respectively at maximally stimulating insulin concentrations, but not at submaximally stimulating concentrations. Lactate formation was not significantly altered. Maximum activity of hexokinase (EC 2.7.1.1) was increased by 35%, and this effect was independent of insulin. The results suggest that the antihyperglycaemic effect of metformin in streptozotocin diabetic mice is related in part to an increase in insulin-mediated glucose uptake and oxidative metabolism in skeletal muscle.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000378:metabolism*; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051379:Mice; D009132:Muscles / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D011972:Receptor, Insulin / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D008687:Metformin; D011972:Receptor, Insulin; D005947:Glucose