Therapeutic effect of metformin on rats with cisplatin-induced acute kidney injury

The therapeutic effect of metformin on acute kidney injury remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to observe the therapeutic effect of metformin on cisplatin-induced acute renal injury in rats, and to explore the mechanisms.

A total of 18 male SD rats were randomly divided into 3 groups: a normal control group, a model group, and a metformin treatment group, 6 in each group. The cisplatin (8 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally injected to establish the acute kidney injury model. Metformin [200 mg/(kg·d)] was given by gavage 48 hours before the cisplatin injection and continuous administration for 9 days in a fixed time. After the last intragastric administration of the drug, the blood samples were collected for measurement of renal function indicators and 24 hours urine samples were collected for the testing of neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL). Renal tissues were dyed by HE staining to evaluate the tubular damage, and TUNEL was used to evaluate the number of apoptosis cells.

Serum urea nitrogen and creatinine, urinary NGAL, the degree of the renal tubular damage, and the number of apoptotic cells were increased significantly in the model group compared with the normal control group (all P<0.05). After treatment with metformin, serum urea nitrogen and creatinine, urinary NGAL, the degree of the renal tubular damage, and the number of apoptotic cells were decreased significantly (all P<0.05).

Metformin exerts a therapeutic effect on rats with acute renal injury via reduction of apoptosis.