The Anti-Diabetic Drug Metformin Disrupts Feeding and Sleeping Behaviors in Drosophila melanogaster

Dimethylbiguanide, also known as metformin, is the single most prescribed oral treatment for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes, in western countries. The primary mechanism of action that metformin acts through is the activation of AMP kinase, an important regulator of energy homeostasis. While the anti-diabetic effects of metformin are well documented, its effects on feeding and sleeping behaviors are not well characterized. Using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, the mean daily quantity of food consumed was measured and compared between groups treated with several dosages of metformin. Feeding interactions such as meal frequency and length were also measured using the Fly-to-Liquid-food Interaction Counter (FLIC). Finally, activity and sleep patterns were measured using the Drosophila Activity Monitor (DAM). It was found that metformin treatment significantly increased food intake and interaction in wild type flies, while also marginally disrupting normal sleep patterns. This result helps verify a direct connection between metformin treatment and the modification of cellular metabolism.