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Zhu Y, Engmann M, Medina D, Han X, Das P, Bartke A, Ellsworth BS, Yuan R. Metformin treatment of juvenile mice alters aging-related developmental and metabolic phenotypes in sex-dependent and sex-independent manners. GeroScience 2024; 46:3197-3218. [PMID: 38227136 PMCID: PMC11009201 DOI: 10.1007/s11357-024-01067-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Metformin has attracted increasing interest for its potential benefits in extending healthspan and longevity. This study examined the effects of early-life metformin treatment on the development and metabolism of C57BL/6 J (B6) mice, with metformin administered to juvenile mice from 15 to 56 days of age. Metformin treatment led to decreased body weight in both sexes (P < 0.05, t-test). At 9 weeks of age, mice were euthanized and organ weights were recorded. The relative weight of retroperitoneal fat was decreased in females, while relative weights of perigonadal and retroperitoneal fat were decreased, and relative liver weight was increased in males (P < 0.05, t-test). Glucose and insulin tolerance tests (GTT and ITT) were conducted at the age of 7 weeks. ANOVA revealed a significant impairment in insulin sensitivity by the treatment, and a significantly interactive effect on glucose tolerance between sex and treatment, underscoring a disparity in GTT between sexes in response to the treatment. Metformin treatment reduced circulating insulin levels in fasting and non-fasting conditions for male mice, with no significant alterations observed in female mice. qRT-PCR analysis of glucose metabolism-related genes (Akt2, Glut2, Glut4, Irs1, Nrip1, Pi3k, Pi3kca, Pkca) in the liver and skeletal muscle reveals metformin-induced sex- and organ-specific effects on gene expression. Comparison with previous studies in heterogeneous UM-HET3 mice receiving the same treatment suggests that genetic differences may contribute to variability in the effects of metformin treatment on development and metabolism. These findings indicate that early-life metformin treatment affects development and metabolism in both sex- and genetics-dependent manners.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Zhu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, P.O. Box 19628, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA
| | - Morgan Engmann
- Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, P.O. Box 19628, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA
| | - David Medina
- Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, P.O. Box 19628, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA
| | - Xiuqi Han
- Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, P.O. Box 19628, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA
| | - Pratyusa Das
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University SIU School of Medicine, 1135 Lincoln Drive, Life Science III, Room 2062, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Andrzej Bartke
- Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, P.O. Box 19628, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA
| | - Buffy S Ellsworth
- Department of Physiology, Southern Illinois University SIU School of Medicine, 1135 Lincoln Drive, Life Science III, Room 2062, Carbondale, IL, 62901, USA
| | - Rong Yuan
- Department of Internal Medicine, Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, 801 N. Rutledge, P.O. Box 19628, Springfield, IL, 62702, USA.
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