Title:Neuropharmacological Actions of Metformin in Stroke
Volume: 13
Issue: 3
Author(s): Jia Jia, Jian Cheng, Jingshu Ni and Xuechu Zhen
Affiliation:
Keywords:
AMPK activation, anti-diabetic drug, metformin, neuropharmacological actions.
Abstract: Increasing epidemiologic evidence suggests that metformin, a well-established AMPK
activator and the most favorable first-line anti-diabetic drug, reduces stroke incidence and severity.
However, the mechanism for this remains unclear. Moreover, previous experimental studies have
reported controversial results about the effects of metformin on stroke outcomes during the acute
phase. However, recent studies have consistently suggested that AMPK-mediated microglia/macrophage
polarization and angioneurogenesis may play essential roles in metformin-promoted, long-term functional recovery
following stroke. The present review summarizes the neuropharmacological actions of metformin in experimental stroke
with an emphasis on the recent findings that the cell-specific effects and duration of AMPK activation are critical to the
effects of metformin on stroke outcomes.
