Current study tested a hypothesis that during skeletal muscle unloading, calcium-dependent signaling pathways, markers of protein synthesis, and expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases can be regulated by metformin. Thirty-two male Wistar rats were randomly assigned into one of four groups: nontreated control (3C), control rats treated with metformin (3CM), 3 days of unloading/hindlimb suspension with placebo (3HS), and 3 days of unloading treated with metformin (3HSM). In soleus muscle of HS group level of phospho-AMP-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) was decreased by 46% while ATP content was increased by 49% when compared with the control group. There was an increase of the level of phospho-CaMK II (483%) and an upregulation of Calcineurin (CaN), SERCA2a, and Calpain-1 mRNA expression (87%, 41%, and 62%, respectively, P < 0.05) in the HS group relative to the control. HS group also had increased mRNA expression of MuRF1, MAFbx, and ubiquitin (167%, 146%, and 191%, respectively, P < 0.05) when compared with the control soleus muscle. Metformin treatment impeded unloading-induced changes in soleus muscle. In conclusion, metformin treatment during 3 days of soleus muscle unloading: 1) prevented the decrease of p-AMPK and increase of ATP content; 2) affected regulation of calcium-dependent signaling pathways via level of CaMK II phosphorylation or CaMK II, CaN, SERCA2a, and Calpain-1 mRNA expression; 3) attenuated an increase in the expression of critical markers of ubiquitin-proteasome pathways MuRF1, MAFbx, and ubiquitin while not affecting the unloading-induced increase of ULK-1 marker of autophagic/lysosomal pathway.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Current study for the first time tested the hypothesis that during 3 days of soleus muscle unloading, calcium-dependent signaling pathways, markers of protein synthesis, and the expression of E3 ubiquitin ligases can be regulated by metformin. Treatment with metformin during unloading: prevented the decrease of p-AMPK and increase of ATP content, affected regulation of calcium-dependent signaling pathways, and attenuated an increase of critical markers of ubiquitin-proteasome pathways. Nevertheless, metformin treatment has not prevented soleus muscle atrophy.
Keywords: AMPK; ATP; MuRF1; metformin; muscle unloading.