Preventive role of metformin on peripheral neuropathy induced by diabetes

Metformin is the first line drug in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, however, little is known about its therapeutic potential to prevent or delay damage to the peripheral nerve. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate whether metformin is able to attenuate the neuroinflammatory response in sciatic nerve of insulin-dependent diabetic mice. Swiss Webster mice were divided into four groups: Control, Diabetic (STZ), Diabetic +100 mg/kg/day of metformin (STZ + M100) and Diabetic +200 mg/kg/day of metformin. Diabetes was induced by streptozotocin (90 mg/kg, i.p.). Only animals with glycemia ≥270 mg/dl were considered diabetics. Metformin prevented atrophy of myelinated axons, and reduced expression of inflammatory mediators (interleukin-1β, inducible nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide). However, treatment with 200 mg of metformin was more effective in increasing neurotrophic (myelin basic protein and neural growth factor), angiogenic (vascular endothelial growth factor) and anti-inflammatory (inhibitor kappa B-alpha and interleukin 10) factors. Thus, metformin treatment, especially at the dose of 200 mg, protected the nerve from damages related to chronic hyperglycemia.