title: Neuropharmacological Actions of Metformin in Stroke.
abstract: Increasing epidemiologic evidence suggests that metformin, a well-established AMPK activator and the most favorable first-line anti-diabetic drug, reduces stroke incidence and severity. However, the mechanism for this remains unclear. Moreover, previous experimental studies have reported controversial results about the effects of metformin on stroke outcomes during the acute phase. However, recent studies have consistently suggested that AMPK-mediated microglia/macrophage polarization and angioneurogenesis may play essential roles in metformin-promoted, long-term functional recovery following stroke. The present review summarizes the neuropharmacological actions of metformin in experimental stroke with an emphasis on the recent findings that the cell-specific effects and duration of AMPK activation are critical to the effects of metformin on stroke outcomes.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Jingshu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Translational Research and Therapy for Neuro-Psycho-Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, 199 Renai Road, Suzhou, Jiangsu Province, 215123, China. zhenxuechu@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Xuechu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhen
mesh_terms: D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008687:Metformin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D020521:Stroke / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D008687:Metformin; D055372:AMP-Activated Protein Kinases