[Effects of metformin on fatty liver in insulin-resistant rats].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effects of metformin on fatty livers in insulin-resistant rats.


METHODS
Thirty-one male Wistar rats were randomly divided into a normal (n=8) and an experimental group (n=23). The normal group rats were fed a standard diet, and those of the experimental group with a high-fat diet. After 8 weeks, 7 rats from the experimental group were sacrificed to verify whether the model was established successfully. Then the experimental group was randomly subdivided into two groups: one with metformin treatment (n=8) and one without (n=8). After 6 weeks, insulin sensitivity was measured with glucose infusion rate (GIR) by euglycermic hyperinsulinemia clamp technique. Aminotransferase, triglyceride (TG) and free fatty acids (FFA) were measured by biochemical methods, insulin by radioimmunoassay and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF alpha) by ELISA. The steatosis changes and inflammation activity of all rat livers were scored histologically.


RESULTS
Compared with the model group, the insulin resistance, liver index, visceral adiposity and weight loss of the metformin group were dramatically ameliorated. The steatosis and the inflammatory activity in the livers and the level of serum aminotransferase of the metformin group were also significantly decreased. Furthermore, metformin treatment lowered serum TG, liver lipid accumulation and the production of FFA and TNF alpha.


CONCLUSIONS
Metformin can significantly improved insulin resistance and fatty liver development in rats fed a high-fat diet. It may become a new choice for fatty liver treatment in the future.
Chen
Shi-qing
SQ
Institute for Viral Hepatitis, Chongqing University of Medical Sciences, Key Laboratory of Ministry of Education for Molecular Biology of Infectious Diseases, Chongqing 400010, China.
Liu
Qi
Q
Sun
Hang
H
Tang
Lin
L
Deng
Jian-chuan
JC
D000818:Animals; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000188:drug therapy*; D007333:Insulin Resistance; D008297:Male; D008687:Metformin / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011897:Random Allocation; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
D008687:Metformin