title: Effects of metformin and insulin on h9c2 rat cardiomyocytes in cell culture with elevated glucose levels.
abstract: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus require adequate blood glucose control with insulin, metformin or other anti-hyperglycemic agents to prevent significant co-morbidities such as cardiovascular disease. Studies have determined that metformin increases the activity of AMP activated protein kinase and reduces hepatic glucose production and increases tissue sensitivity to insulin. Insulin has some vascular protective qualities; however insulin resistance of type 2 diabetes may be harmful to vascular endothelium. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of metformin and insulin on H9c2 rat cardiomyocytes in high glucose culture media. Results of this study indicate that clinical doses both insulin and metformin are capable of reducing supernatant glucose levels in high glucose media. Metformin may offer some protection to cardiomyoctyes. Morphologically, cellular changes occurred after exposure to both insulin and metformin at both 24 and 48 hours although at 72 hours, both groups exhibit evidence of cellular damage.
authors.affiliation: University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson.
authors.forename: Lishia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Michelle A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Tucci
authors.forename: Hamed A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Benghuzzi