Metformin promotes microglial cells to facilitate myelin debris clearance and accelerate nerve repairment after spinal cord injury.

ABSTRACT: Spinal cord injury (SCI) is one kind of severe trauma for central nervous system. Myelin debris clearance and axon regeneration are essential for nerve regeneration after SCI. Metformin, a glucose-lowering drug, has been demonstrated to promote the locomotor functional recovery after SCI. In this study, we investigated the role and molecular mechanism of metformin on myelin preservation in a rat SCI model. SCI was induced in rats by compression at T9 level using a vascular clip. We showed that administration of metformin (50 mg·kg^-1·d^-1, ip) for 28 days significantly improved locomotor function in SCI rats. Metformin also ameliorated SCI-induced neuronal apoptosis and promoted axon regeneration in the spinal cord. Using co-immunofluorescence of IBa-1 and MBP, and luxo

SUBMITTER: Wu YQ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9160053 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature