Fig. 6: Single-cell RNA sequencing and an immunofluorescence study of hepatocytes isolated from rats (as indicated).

A Single-cell RNA sequencing: 24 genes with the greatest difference between metformin-treated Lepr WT rats and Lepr-KO rats. n = 12. *Glucose metabolism-involved genes; ^#Fatty acid metabolism-involved genes; ^ΔCholesterol metabolism-involved genes; ^†Bile acid metabolism-involved genes; ^‡Sterol metabolism-involved genes. B Immunofluorescence study on in-vitro cultured hepatocytes isolated from normal chow diet (NCD)-fed Lepr wild type (WT) rats without metformin (b1), high-fat diet (HFD)-fed Lepr WT rats without (b2) or with (b3) 6 months of metformin administration, and HFD-fed Lepr knock-out (KO) rats without (b4) or with (b5) 6 months of metformin administration. Scale bars, 50 μm. G6PDX, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase X-linked; HMGCS1, 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase 1 Lepr, leptin receptor; CYP7a1, cytochrome P450 (family 7, subfamily a, polypeptide 1); IGFBP1, Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein 1; AMPK, adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase; SCD1, Stearoyl-coenzyme A desaturase 1; CCO, cytochrome C oxidase; CoQ10b, Coenzyme Q10 homolog B; SDH, serine dehydratase; SQLE, Squalene epoxidase; STAC3, SH3- and cysteine-rich domain 3; LCN2, lipocalin 2; FABP7, fatty acid-binding protein 7 (brain); INSIG1, insulin-induced gene 1; ADFP, adipose differentiation-related protein; UGP2, uridine diphosphate (UDP)-glucose pyrophosphorylase 2; CAR3, carbonic anhydrase 3; CHKα, choline kinase α; PRLR, prolactin receptor; CYP3a9, cytochrome P450, family 3, subfamily a, polypeptide 9; ACSM3, acyl-CoA synthetase medium-chain family member3; CES3, carboxylesterase 3; A2M, alpha-2-macroglobulin.