Publication:

An experimental study on the influence of metformin on monosodium glutamate‑treated depressed Wistar albino male rats

Background The current experiment aimed to determine the antidepressant-like properties of metformin in a monosodium glutamate- induced depression model in Wistar albino male rats.

Methods The subjects were subjected to depression induced using oral intake of 500 mg/kg of MSG over a period of 21 days. The experimental period was between day 9 and day 21, during which metformin and an antidepressant drug, the standard dose of imipramine, were administered. The sacrifice of animals was conducted on day 23, and biochemical analyses were performed on the supernatants of hippocampal and amygdaloid tissues. Statistical analysis was done with a significance of p<0.05.

Results MSG exposure led to a high level of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and a low level of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Metformin and imipramine treatment led to a significant decrease in IL-6 levels and a significant increase in BDNF concentrations compared with the MSG-treated group (p<0.001). The results of metformin were similar to the impact of a standard drug, imipramine.

Conclusions The observed study results indicate that metformin has antidepressant-like properties in MSG-induced depressed rats, which could be due to the inhibition of neuroinflammation and the promotion of neurotrophic support.