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Importance of the intestine as a site of metformin‐stimulated glucose utilization
Author(s) -
Bailey C.J.,
Mynett K.J.,
Page T.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
british journal of pharmacology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.432
H-Index - 211
eISSN - 1476-5381
pISSN - 0007-1188
DOI - 10.1111/j.1476-5381.1994.tb13128.x
Subject(s) - metformin , medicine , endocrinology , glucose uptake , small intestine , glucose transporter , carbohydrate metabolism , blood flow , chemistry , biology , diabetes mellitus , insulin
1 The intestine has been implicated as a site of increased glucose utilization by the antihyperglycaemic drug, metformin. This study makes a quantitative assessment of this effect. 2 Glucose utilization by the intestine and hind limb region was determined by arterial‐venous glucose difference adjusted for blood flow rate in fasted rats receiving a hyperglycaemic hyperinsulinaemic infusion. 3 Intrajejunal administration of metformin, 250 mg kg −1 , increased glucose disposal during the infusion procedure, associated with increased glucose utilization in the intestine by 69% and in the hind limb region by 40%. 4 Metformin, 250 mg kg −1 , increased glucose disappearance during an intravenous glucose tolerance test. This was accompanied by increased uptake of tritiated 2‐deoxy‐ d ‐glucose into the intestinal mucosa to a greater extent than into skeletal muscles (per unit wet weight of tissue). 5 The results demonstrate that the intestinal mucosa is a quantitatively important site of increased glucose utilization during the blood glucose‐lowering effect of metformin.