Metformin inhibits apoptosis of primary cardiomyocytes

Objective:To assess whether there are beneficial effects of metformin action on cardiomyocytes apoptosis damaged due to H2O2.We also illustrated the change of Caspase-3 level. Method:Primary cardiomyocytes were cultured from the ventricles of one-day-old Wistar rats.Cardiomyocytes were incubated in the presence of 100 μmol/L H2O2 for 12 h.Cardiomyocytes were pretreated with 100 μmol/L metformin for 60 min before the addition of H2O2.The apoptosis of cells were analyzed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling(TUNEL) assay.The expression of Caspase-3 was evaluated by Western blotting. Result:The TUNEL assay showed that cell apoptosis in normal cardiomyocytes was low(5.99±0.61)%.Reactive oxygen species(ROS) increased the cell apoptosis(33.45±1.78)%.Metformin significantly reduced cardiomyocyte apoptosis(7.89±1.12)% after pretreatment for 60 min.The Caspase-3 level in cells after exposure to H2O2 was higher compared with that in vehicle-treated cells(P0.05).Metformin significantly inhibited the expression of Caspase-3. Conclusion:Metformin has antagonistic effects on the influences of H2O2 on cell apoptosis and attenuate oxidative stress-induced apoptosis,which is associated with inhibiting the expression of Caspase-3.