Improvement of Cardiac Functions by Chronic Metformin Treatment Is Associated With Enhanced Cardiac Autophagy in Diabetic OVE26 Mice

Abstract

Decreased AMPK activity and subsequent reduction in cardiac autophagy are important events in the development of diabetic cardiomyopathy. Chronic AMPK activation by metformin prevents cardiomyopathy by upregulating autophagy activity in diabetic OVE26 mice. Thus, stimulation of AMPK may represent a novel approach to treat diabetic cardiomyopathy.