Pharmacological profile of metformin

Metformin (dimethylbiguanide), is an antihyperglycemicused to treat non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus whichcharacteristically comprises 3 pathophysiologic abnormalities:relative insulin deficiency, insulin resistance involving myocytesand adipocytes, and hepatic insulin resistance resulting in increasedgluconeogenesis and impaired glycogen synthesis.The most prevalent side-effects of biguanides are lacticacidosis, vitamin Biz-rnalabsorption , gastrointestinal side effectsand higher homocysteine levels.The present work was designed to explore the possible sideeffects of metformin on male fertility and immunity in rabbits withexperirnentally induced diabetes.Sixteen four adult male rabbits weighing (2kg each) weredivided into four equal groups, 4 rabbits each as follows:The first group (Non diabetic non treated, control group):Rabbits in the first group received neither alloxan normetformin and remained as control group.The second group (Non diabetic treated with metformin):Rabbits in the second group were treated with metformin at adose of 120 mg/kg b.wt. orally.