Fig. 7

Metformin increased phosphorylated-eNOS in BM-EPCs via an AMPK dependent pathway in vitro. Metformin (2 mM) and compound C (10 μM) were added into the high glucose medium for 24 h. Metfromin significantly increased high glucose-induced phosphorylated-eNOS expression (a, b) and intracellular NO levels (c, d) in cultured BM-EPCs. Inhibition of AMPK by compound C significantly downregulated phosphorylated-eNOS expression (a, b) and NO production (c, d) enhanced by metformin in BM-EPCs cultured in vitro. *P < 0.05 vs Control; ^# P < 0.05 vs HG; ^& P < 0.05 vs HG + Met. Values are mean ± SEM (a, b: n = 3 per group; c, d: n = 5 per group)