ABSTRACT
Metformin (Met) has been shown to have pleiotropic effects such as neuroprotective, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties making that a potential candidate for the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders. This study was designed to investigate the possible effect of Met on the d-galactose (d-gal)-induced aging in ovariectomized mice. The female mice underwent bilateral ovariectomy. d-gal was administered orally at a dose of 500 mg/kg, and Met was administrated orally at doses of 1 and 10 mg/kg for 6 weeks. Anxiety-like behavior was evaluated by the elevated plus-maze. Physical power was assessed by vertical grid holding test and forced swimming capacity test. The brains were assessed for the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Ovariectomy caused anxiety and declined the physical power as well as BDNF and SOD levels. d-gal administration in ovariectomized mice exacerbated these deleterious effects. Met hampered the anxiety-like behavior and strengthened the physical power of d-gal-treated ovariectomized mice. Met also increased the SOD and BDNF levels in the brains of d-gal-treated ovariectomized animals. Based on the obtained results, we suggest Met administration as a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of age-related conditions in the absence of female sex hormones.
Subject(s)
Aging/drug effects , Galactose/pharmacology , Metformin/pharmacology , Aging/metabolism , Animals , Anti-Inflammatory Agents/pharmacology , Antioxidants/pharmacology , Brain/drug effects , Brain/metabolism , Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor/metabolism , Female , Maze Learning/drug effects , Mice , Neuroprotective Agents/pharmacology , Ovariectomy/methods , Superoxide Dismutase/metabolismABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: Metformin (Met), an antidiabetic biguanide, reduces hyperglycemia via improving glucose utilization and reducing the gluconeogenesis. Met has been shown to exert neuroprotective, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The present study investigated the possible effect of Met on the D-galactose (D-gal)-induced aging in mice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Met (1 and 10 mg/kg/p.o.), was administrated daily in D-gal-received (500 mg/kg/p.o.) mice model of aging for six weeks. Anxiety-like behavior, cognitive function, and physical power were evaluated by the elevated plus-maze, novel object recognition task (NORT), and forced swimming capacity test, respectively. The brains were analyzed for the level of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). RESULTS: Met decreased the anxiety-like behavior in D-gal-treated mice. Also, Met treated mice showed significantly improved learning and memory ability in NORT compared to the D-gal-treated mice. Furthermore, Met increased the physical power as well as the activity of SOD and BDNF level in D-gal-treated mice. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the use of Met can be an effective strategy for prevention and treatment of D-gal-induced aging in animal models. This effect seems to be mediated by attenuation of oxidative stress and enhancement of the neurotrophic factors.
