Hippocampal serotonin in mediating stress-reducing effect of metformin

What is it about?

Metformin increases hippocampal serotonergic neurotransmission while promoting anxiolytic effects in unstressed animals while immobilization stress-induced anxiety shows a decrease in 5-HT metabolism, supporting the role of 5-HT in stress-induced anxiety. The current study also shows that metformin treatment did not alter the adaptation to stress-induced changes in food intake and body weight.

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Why is it important?

There are studies that diabetic patients are more susceptible to depression, and metformin is an FDA-approved anti-diabetic drug with a good safety profile. This research is about the anti-depressant effect of metformin treatment in non-diabetic rats.