AimTo explore the effects and relative mechanism of metformin on changes of apoptosis associated genes survivin, p27, c-myc, c-fos and pathology in the diabetic rat myocyte.MethodsThe diabetic rat model was established.35 diabetic rats were randomly allocated into metformin(MT) group and diabetes mellitus(DM) group.15 rats were selected as control group.Therapeutical effect of myocardial pathology was detected by optical microscope and pathologic chemical staining.Apoptosis associated genes survivin, p27, c-myc, c-fos mRNA and relative proteins in the myocardium were detected by RT-PCR and Western blot. ResultsPathology of the DM group: myocyte arranged irregularly, myocyte hypertrophy, distortion, enlarged intercellular space, increased extracellular matrix, enhanced inflammatory cell infiltration, myocyte edema and more interstitial fibroblasts were observed.The changes of the myocardium in the MT group were significantly relieved compared with those of the DM group, myocyte ranked in order, interstitial contents decreased, perivascular matrix decreased, fibroblast decreased, inflammatory cell infiltration reduced markedly.The pathology changes of DM group were related to changes of survivin, p27, c-fos mRNA and protein. c-fos mRNA and protein level in MT group had no significant difference compared with the control group (p>0.05), but it was significantly higher than that of DM group (p<0.05). Survivin, p27 and c-myc mRNA and protein level in MT group had no significant difference compared with the DM group (p>0.05).ConclusionsThe pathology changes of DM group is related to changes of survivin, p27, c-fos mRNA and protein. Metformin improves pathological changes of diabetic cardiomyopathy which may be related to change of c-fos mRNA and protein.Metformin’s protective effect may not be related to survivin, p27 and c-myc mRNA and protein.