Fig. 5

Metformin inhibits VSMC proliferation, migration, and apoptosis via AMPK activation. A Cell proliferation assay measured with CCK-8 at 0.5, 1, 2, and 4 h after incubated with 5, 50, and 500 μM metformin and compound C. B Evaluation of migratory capacity with the transwell assay. (a–e) Representative images of migrating cells stained with crystal violet are shown for the control (a), 500 μM metformin (b), 50 μM metformin (c), 5 μM metformin (d), and 10 μM compound C (e) groups. Scale bar = 50 μM. C (a–e) Representative images and quantitative analysis of apoptotic cells analyzed by Hoechst staining in the control (a), 500 μM metformin (b), 50 μM metformin (c), 5 μM metformin (d), and 10 μM compound C (e) groups. Scale bar = 50 μM. (f) Quantitative analysis. *P < 0.05 vs control group; ^#P < 0.05 vs 500 μM metformin group. OD, optical density