Effects of metformin on the glucose regulation, lipid levels and gut microbiota in in high-fat diet with streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetes mellitus rats

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Among anti-diabetic drugs, metformin may regulate blood glucose through affect gut microbiotas, however, the potential mechanism between glucose regulation and gut microbiota were not clear. The study was to evaluate the effect of metformin on the the glucose regulation, lipid levels and gut microbiota in high-fat diet with streptozotocin induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (HFD/STZ-T2DM) rats. Methods Thirty experimental male rats were divided into three groups, which were fed normal diet for the first week. The first group was the control group (10 individuals), the second group and the third group were given high-fat diet to establish the diabetes model at the 2–7 weeks of feeding, the second group was the diabetes control group (10 individuals); The third group was given metformin, that is, metformin group (10). The body weight of rats in each group was measured weekly, and the levels of OGTT, HbA1C, TG, TC and LDL-C in venous blood were monitored 42d later. Acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid and valeric acid were collected from the stool of rats the day before the end of the experiment, and microbial DNA was extracted. At the end of the experiment, the weight of liver, kidney, spleen and thymus tissue was measured, and the pathological analysis of pancreatic tissue was performed. Results The results showed that the rats gavaged with metformin significantly improving the blood glucose, serum lipids, accompanied by altering of short-chain fatty acids levels and intestinal microbiota (P < 0.05). Compared to the diabetic rats, the metformin may through increased the specific probiotics to improving the the hypoglycemic effects of the oral antidiabetic drugs. The damages of liver and kidney were well improved in the rats gavaged with metformin. Conclusions The metformin may be a good alternative to oral drugs for delaying progression of diabetic complications.