title: Metformin prevents embryonic resorption induced by hyperandrogenisation with dehydroepiandrosterone in mice.
abstract: The present study examined the mechanism by which metformin prevents dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)-induced embryonic resorption in mice. Treatment with DHEA (6 mg/100 g bodyweight, 24 and 48 h post implantation) induced 88 +/- 1 % embryonic resorption and the diminution of both serum oestradiol (E) and progesterone (P) levels. However, when metformin (50 mg/kg bodyweight) was given together with DHEA, embryo resorption (43 +/- 3% v. 35 +/- 5% in controls) and both serum E and P levels were not significantly different from controls. Glucose and insulin levels were increased in the DHEA-treated mice but when metformin was administered together with DHEA these parameters were similar to control values. Treatment with DHEA increased ovarian oxidative stress and diminished uterine nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity; however, when metformin was administered together with DHEA, both ovarian oxidative stress and uterine NOS activity were not different from controls. Metformin treatment did not modify the percentage of CD4(+) and CD8(+) T cells from both axillar and retroperitoneal lymph nodes but prevented the increase of serum tumour necrosis factor +/- produced in DHEA-treated mice. These results show that metformin acts in DHEA-induced embryonic resorption in mice by modulating endocrine parameters, ovarian oxidative stress and uterine NOS activity.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Estudios Farmacológicos y Botánicos (CEFYBO), Consejo de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Solano
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elia
authors.forename: C G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Luchetti
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Di Girolamo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gonzalez
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Motta
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D016516:CD4-CD8 Ratio; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004958:Estradiol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D005327:Fetal Resorption / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017588:Hyperandrogenism / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000150:complications; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D008687:Metformin / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D010053:Ovary / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018384:Oxidative Stress / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D011374:Progesterone / Q000097:blood; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000032:analysis; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D003687:Dehydroepiandrosterone; D011374:Progesterone; D004958:Estradiol; D008687:Metformin; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase