Effect of Phenformin in Hyperglycemic Rats

Abstract

Phenformin administered intraperitoneally in doses of 30 and 100 mg. per kilogram significantly reduced the blood glucose concentration in streptozotocin-diabetic rats, but was virtually inactive in normal healthy rats. Phenformin also antagonized the hyperglycemic effect of an intravenous infusion of epinephrine in normal anesthetized rats and decreased blood glucose concentration of hepatectomized rats infused with glucose. These results are not consistent with hypotheses explaining the biguanide effect as an impairment of the intestinal absorption of sugars and indicate that the liver is not the only site of its action.