[Metformin effect on the mouse pancreatic langerhans islets volume]

ABSTRACT

Metformin is a widely used medicine for treatment of type 2 diabetes. In this study, the effect of various doses of metformin on the mouse islets of langerhans volume was investigated. Twenty four C57BL/6 adult male mice weighting 30 +/- 5 gr were randomly divided into 4 groups. Normal saline was given to the control group [group 4] and the experimental groups [groups 1-3] received 75, 150 and 300 mg/kg metformin daily by intraperitoneal injection for seven days. One day after the last injection the mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation and their pancreases were fixed in 10% formalin for histological studies. The volume of the islets of langerhans was estimated by using Cavalieri method. Volume of the islets of langerhans in doses of 75 and 150 mg/kg Metformin showed a nonsignificant difference in comparison to control group [P>0.05]. 300 mg/kg metformin treated mice showed a significant increase in islets of langerhans volume compared to the control group [P<0.05]. Metformin increases in the islets of langerhans volume in a dose-dependent manner. Increasing effects of Metformin on the islets of langerhans volume may be due to proliferation or hypertrophy of beta cells