Patients with a spinal cord injury (SCI) usually suffer lifelong disability as a result. Considering this, SCI treatment and pathology study are urgently needed. Metformin, a widely used hypoglycemic drug, has been indicated for its important role in central nervous system diseases. This study aimed to investigate the potential effect of metformin on remyelination after SCI. In the present study, we established a cervical contusion SCI model and metformin treatment was applied after SCI. Biomechanical parameters and behavioral assessment were used to evaluate the severity of injury and the improvement of functional recovery after SCI, respectively. The immunofluorescence and western blot were performed at the terminal time point. Our results showed that treating with metformin after SCI improved functional recovery by reducing the white matter loss and promoting Schwann cell remyelination, and the Nrg1/ErbB signaling pathway may be involved in promoting remyelination mediated by oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells. In addition, the area of spared tissues was significantly increased in the metformin group. However, metformin had no significant effects on the glial scar and inflammation after SCI. In summary, these findings indicated that the role of metformin in Schwann cell remyelination after SCI was probably related to the regulation of the Nrg1/ErbB pathway. It is, therefore, possible to suggest that metformin may be a potential therapy for SCI.

脊髓损伤 (SCI) 患者通常会因此遭受终生残疾。鉴于此，迫切需要SCI治疗和病理学研究。二甲双胍是一种广泛使用的降血糖药物，已被证明在中枢神经系统疾病中具有重要作用。本研究旨在探讨二甲双胍对 SCI 后髓鞘再生的潜在影响。在本研究中，我们建立了颈椎挫裂伤SCI模型，并在SCI后应用二甲双胍治疗。生物力学参数和行为评估分别用于评估SCI后损伤的严重程度和功能恢复的改善情况。在最终时间点进行免疫荧光和蛋白质印迹。我们的研究结果表明，SCI后二甲双胍治疗通过减少白质丢失和促进雪旺细胞髓鞘再生来改善功能恢复，并且Nrg1/ErbB信号通路可能参与促进少突胶质细胞和雪旺细胞介导的髓鞘再生。此外，二甲双胍组的幸存组织面积显着增加。然而，二甲双胍对 SCI 后的胶质疤痕和炎症没有显着影响。总之，这些发现表明二甲双胍在 SCI 后雪旺细胞髓鞘再生中的作用可能与 Nrg1/ErbB 通路的调节有关。因此，二甲双胍可能是 SCI 的潜在治疗方法。Nrg1/ErbB信号通路可能参与少突胶质细胞和雪旺细胞介导的促进髓鞘再生。此外，二甲双胍组的幸存组织面积显着增加。然而，二甲双胍对 SCI 后的胶质疤痕和炎症没有显着影响。总之，这些发现表明二甲双胍在 SCI 后雪旺细胞髓鞘再生中的作用可能与 Nrg1/ErbB 通路的调节有关。因此，二甲双胍可能是 SCI 的潜在治疗方法。Nrg1/ErbB信号通路可能参与少突胶质细胞和雪旺细胞介导的促进髓鞘再生。此外，二甲双胍组的幸存组织面积显着增加。然而，二甲双胍对 SCI 后的胶质疤痕和炎症没有显着影响。总之，这些发现表明二甲双胍在 SCI 后雪旺细胞髓鞘再生中的作用可能与 Nrg1/ErbB 通路的调节有关。因此，二甲双胍可能是 SCI 的潜在治疗方法。这些结果表明二甲双胍在SCI后雪旺细胞髓鞘再生中的作用可能与Nrg1/ErbB通路的调节有关。因此，二甲双胍可能是 SCI 的潜在治疗方法。这些结果表明二甲双胍在 SCI 后雪旺细胞髓鞘再生中的作用可能与 Nrg1/ErbB 通路的调节有关。因此，二甲双胍可能是 SCI 的潜在治疗方法。