Acute administration of metformin prior to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury protects brain injury
Research article published in European journal of pharmacology (2020)
Abstract
Myocardial ischemia is the malperfusion of cardiac tissue due to a blockage in a coronary artery. Subsequent return of blood flow to the ischemic area of the heart, results in ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury in the heart and other organs, including the brain. Besides the cardioprotective effects of metformin on the heart against cardiac I/R injury, metformin also reduced neuronal injury in a stroke model. However, the effects of metformin on the brain following cardiac I/R injury has not yet been investigated. Therefore, we hypothesize that metformin reduces brain damage via decreasing brain mitochondrial dysfunction, microglial hyperactivity, and Alzheimer's proteins in rats after cardiac I/R injury. Rats (n = 50) received either a sham operation (n = 10) or cardiac I/R (n = 40). Cardiac I/R was induced by 30 min of cardiac ischemia, followed by 120 min of reperfusion. Rats in cardiac I/R group were divided into 4 groups (n = 10/group); vehicle, metformin 100 mg/kg, metformin 200 mg/kg, and metformin 400 mg/kg. Metformin was given via femoral vein at 15 min prior to cardiac ischemia. At the end of reperfusion, brains were removed to determine dendritic spine density, brain mitochondrial function, microglial morphology, and amyloid beta formation. Cardiac I/R injury led to brain mitochondrial dysfunction, microglial hyperactivation, amyloid beta formation, Tau hyperphosphorylation, and reduced dendritic spine density with an increase in AMPK activation. All doses of metformin improved brain pathologies in rats with cardiac I/R injury possibly via activating cerebral AMPK. In summary, pre-treatment with metformin offers neuroprotection against the brain damages caused by cardiac I/R injury.
Abstract sourced from PubMed (NCBI) for the cited record. See the original publication for the authoritative version.
Resumen
Myocardial ischemia is the malperfusion of cardiac tissue due to a blockage in a coronary artery.
Por qué esto importa para la hirudoterapia
Este estudio investigó si la administración aguda de metformina previa a la lesión por isquemia/reperfusión (I/R) cardíaca protege al cerebro en un modelo de rata (n=50), examinando la densidad de espinas dendríticas, la función mitocondrial, la morfología microglial y la formación de beta amiloide. Todas las dosis de metformina probadas mejoraron las patologías cerebrales tras la lesión por I/R cardíaca, posiblemente mediante la activación cerebral de AMPK. Caveat: este estudio no menciona sanguijuelas, hirudina, terapia con sanguijuelas ni el secretoma de la sanguijuela; no tiene relevancia identificable para la hirudoterapia ni para el dominio de ASH.
Citación
Acute administration of metformin prior to cardiac ischemia/reperfusion injury protects brain injury
Leech T et al. · European journal of pharmacology, 2020
Contexto clínico relacionado
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Añadido a la biblioteca ASH: May 27, 2026 · Última actualización del sitio: 18 de junio de 2026