Trophic effects of nootropic peptide preparations cerebrolysin and semax on cultured rat pheochromocytoma.
Safarova. E R ER; Shram. S I SI; Grivennikov. I A IA; Myasoedov. N F NF
Key Findings
- Semax showed no effect on cell differentiation or survival in PC12 cells
- Cerebrolysin caused cells to enlarge, sprout processes, and cut apoptosis from 32% to 10%
- The neuroprotective benefit of semax likely comes from mechanisms other than direct trophic support
Practical Outcomes
- Semax probably won’t help you increase neuron growth or protect cells by reducing death in the ways tested here, so don’t count on it for that purpose. It may still have other brain‑boosting effects, but more research is needed to define them. No dosage changes are suggested based on this study.
Summary
In a lab test using rat nerve‑like cells, the peptide semax didn’t help the cells grow or survive, while another drug called cerebrolysin did. This suggests semax’s brain‑protective actions work through different pathways, not by directly boosting cell growth.
Abstract
Trophic characteristics of neuroprotectors cerebrolysin and semax were evaluated by their capacity to induce differentiation and improve survival of cultured rat pheochromocytoma (PC12) cells. Morphological signs of cell differentiation (enlargement and formation of processes) were seen 24 h after addition of cerebrolysin into culture medium. Cerebrolysin improved survival of PC12 cells in serum-free medium. In a concentration of 100 microg/ml cerebrolysin decreased the content of apoptotic cells from 32% (control) to 10%. Semax produced no trophic effect on PC12 cells. hence, the neuroprotective effect of cerebrolysin in vivo probably results from trophic activity, while the protective effects of semax are mediated by other mechanisms.
Study Information
pubmed
2002
10.1023/a:1016270626439