Semax · research summary

Protective Effects of PGC-1α Activators on Ischemic Stroke in a Rat Model of Photochemically Induced Thrombosis.

Brain sciences · 2021. Summary drawn from the study's full text. Each statement is followed by the exact sentence it comes from. This is a research summary, not medical advice.

Study type

Preclinical animal study investigating the effects of Mexidol and Semax on PGC-1α expression and ischemic brain injury in rats.
“This study focused on the potential PGC-1α-modulating activity of Mexidol (2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine succinate) and Semax (ACTH(4–7) analog) in a rat model of photochemical-induced thrombosis (PT) in the prefrontal cortex.”

Subjects

Male Wistar rats aged 8–9 weeks weighing 200–230 g.
“We used 96 white outbred Wistar male rats weighing between 200 and 230 g and aged 8–9 weeks at the beginning of the experiment.”

Sample size

96 rats divided into four groups of 24 animals each.
“The rats were randomly divided into the following four groups (Figure 2B): (1) “Stroke + Saline” (n = 24): Rats with photochemically induced thrombosis that received i/p saline; (2) “Stroke + Mexidol” (n = 24): Animals treated with Mexidol (LLC NPK Farmasoft, Russia) by i/p injection 2 h after PT and for 6 consecutive days (one injection per day) at a dose of 100 mg/kg; (3) “Stroke + Semax” (n = 24): Animals treated with Semax (CJSC Innovative Research and Production Center “Peptogen”, Russia) by i/n administration 2 h after PT and for 6 consecutive days (one instillation per day) at a dose of 25 μg/kg; (4) and “Control” (n = 24): Intact rats that received i/p saline.”

Reported findings

Administration of Mexidol or Semax preserved neuron number and PGC-1α expression while stimulating nuclear translocation of PGC-1α.
“Administration of Mexidol or Semax was associated with preservation of the neuron number and neuronal expression of PGC-1α, stimulation of the nuclear translocation of PGC-1α, and increased contents of protein markers for PGC-1α activation.”

Source: PubMed 33806692 · DOI 10.3390/brainsci11030325 · all study summaries

Study type

Preclinical animal study investigating the effects of Mexidol and Semax on PGC-1α expression and ischemic brain injury in rats.

“This study focused on the potential PGC-1α-modulating activity of Mexidol (2-ethyl-6-methyl-3-hydroxypyridine succinate) and Semax (ACTH(4–7) analog) in a rat model of photochemical-induced thrombosis (PT) in the prefrontal cortex.”

Sample size

96 rats divided into four groups of 24 animals each.

“The rats were randomly divided into the following four groups (Figure 2B): (1) “Stroke + Saline” (n = 24): Rats with photochemically induced thrombosis that received i/p saline; (2) “Stroke + Mexidol” (n = 24): Animals treated with Mexidol (LLC NPK Farmasoft, Russia) by i/p injection 2 h after PT and for 6 consecutive days (one injection per day) at a dose of 100 mg/kg; (3) “Stroke + Semax” (n = 24): Animals treated with Semax (CJSC Innovative Research and Production Center “Peptogen”, Russia) by i/n administration 2 h after PT and for 6 consecutive days (one instillation per day) at a dose of 25 μg/kg; (4) and “Control” (n = 24): Intact rats that received i/p saline.”

Reported findings

Administration of Mexidol or Semax preserved neuron number and PGC-1α expression while stimulating nuclear translocation of PGC-1α.

“Administration of Mexidol or Semax was associated with preservation of the neuron number and neuronal expression of PGC-1α, stimulation of the nuclear translocation of PGC-1α, and increased contents of protein markers for PGC-1α activation.”