Biological Activity
AICAR is a cell-permeable AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activator.
In Vitro
HepG2 cells are treated with various concentrations of AICAR (0.1-1.0 mM) for 12, 24, and 48 h, respectively. The expression level of IR-β significantly decreases with 0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 mM of AICAR at 48 h to 50%, 53%, and 46% of the control, respectively[1].
In Vivo
Fourteen-week-old male, lean (L; 31.3 g body wt) wild-type andob/ob (O; 59.6 g body wt) mice are injected with the AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) activator AICAR (A) at 0.5 mg/g per day or saline control (C) for 14 days. At 24 h after the last injection (including a 12-h fast), all mice are killed, and the plantar flexor complex muscle (gastrocnemius, soleus, and plantaris) is excised for analysis. Muscle mass is lower in OC (159±12 mg) than LC, LA, and OA (176±10, 178±9, and 166±16 mg, respectively) mice, independent of a body weight change[2]. The kidney weight is significantly higher in the untreated group when compared with both the exercise and AICAR (0.5 mg/g body wt) groups. The heart weight is higher in the exercise group than in the other groups, whereas the liver weight is significantly higher in the AICAR-treated group when compared with the exercise and untreated groups[3].
References & source
Published experimental findings depend on the model and assay conditions. They do not guarantee equivalent performance in every application. For laboratory research use only.