Chronic metformin treatment facilitates seizure termination

The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a key energy sensor. Its activator metformin could suppress epileptogenesis in the pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) kindling model. However, the effect of metformin on the acute and chronic seizures has not been studied. We first detected the expression of AMPK in the brain tissue of human and mice with chronic seizures, as well as in mice with acute seizures. Second, using behavioral assay and local filed potentials (LFPs) recording, we investigated the effect of chronic metformin treatment on seizures in a acute seizure model and a chronic seizure model. Our results showed that AMPK was expressed in neurons in the epileptic brain. The expression level was decreased in the brain tissue that experienced chronic and acute seizures. In PTZ-induced acute seizures model, behavioral assay showed that chronic metformin treatment decreased the mortality, and LFPs recording showed that chronic metformin treatment shortened the duration of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and prolonged the duration of postictal depression. Moreover, in kainic acid-induced chronic seizures model, LFPs recording showed that chronic metformin treatment shortened the duration of epileptic activity. Our study suggests that chronic metformin treatment could facilitate seizure termination.