Intranasal Administration of Forskolin and Noopept Reverses Parkinsonian Pathology in PINK1 Knockout Rats.

Dagda RK, Dagda RY, Vazquez-Mayorga E, Martinez B, Gallahue A

International journal of molecular sciences30 Dec 2022Cited by 7 (Europe PMC)

PMID36614135PMCIDPMC9820624DOI10.3390/ijms24010690PepBankPUB-36614135

Summary

Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a brain-degenerative disorder characterized by a progressive loss of midbrain dopamine neurons. Current standard-of-care includes oral administration of Levodopa to address motor symptoms, but this treatment is not disease-modifying. A reduction in Protein Kinase A (PKA) signaling and neurotrophic support contributes to PD pathology. We previously showed that enhancing PKA activity in the brain via intraperitoneal administration of Forskolin in Parkinsonian rats (PINK1 knockout) abrogate motor symptoms and loss of midbrain dopamine neurons. Given that intraperitoneal administration is invasive, we hypothesized that intranasal administration of Forskolin and a second nootropic agent (Noopept) could reverse PD pathology efficiently. Results show that intranasal administration of a formulation (CNS/CT-001) containing Forskolin (10 µM) and Noopept (20 nM) significantly reversed motor symptoms, loss of hind limb strength, and neurodegeneration of midbrain dopamine neurons in PINK1-KO rats and is indistinguishable from wild-type (WT) rats; therapeutic effects associated with increased PKA activity and levels of BDNF and NGF in the brain. Intranasal administration of CNS/CT-001, but not Forskolin, significantly decreased the number of α-synuclein aggregates in the cortex of PINK1-KO rats, and is indistinguishable from WT rats. Overall, we show proof of concept that intranasal administration of CNS/CT-001 is a non-invasive, disease-modifying formulation for PD.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study8

1 result from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In PINK1 knockout rats, CNS/CT-001, but not forskolin alone, significantly decreased cortical α-synuclein aggregates.
In plain wordsIn PINK1 knockout rats, forskolin plus noopept decreased cortical α-synuclein aggregates, but forskolin alone did not.
Peptide
Noopept (omberacetam)
Outcome
DecreaseCortical α-synuclein aggregates versus forskolin
Study
ratn: not reported in source
PINK1 knockout rats
Comparator
Forskolin alone
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
20 nM · intranasalAs given in this study (rat).
Source sentences
Summary
Intranasal administration of CNS/CT-001, but not Forskolin, significantly decreased the number of α-synuclein aggregates in the cortex of PINK1-KO rats, and is indistinguishable from WT rats.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Results show that intranasal administration of a formulation (CNS/CT-001) containing Forskolin (10 µM) and Noopept (20 nM) significantly reversed
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3661413507

Studies that did not test the peptide alone7

In this study, Noopept (omberacetam) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. These results are not evidence about taking Noopept (omberacetam).

02AnimalNot a test of Noopept (omberacetam) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In PINK1 knockout rats, CNS/CT-001 reversed motor symptoms to levels indistinguishable from wild-type rats.
In plain wordsIn PINK1 knockout rats, the forskolin and noopept formulation reversed motor symptoms to levels indistinguishable from wild-type rats.
Peptide
Noopept (omberacetam)
Outcome
DecreaseMotor symptoms
Study
ratn: not reported in source
PINK1 knockout rats
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
Results show that intranasal administration of a formulation (CNS/CT-001) containing Forskolin (10 µM) and Noopept (20 nM) significantly reversed motor symptoms, loss of hind limb strength, and neurodegeneration of midbrain dopamine neurons in PINK1-KO rats and is indistinguishable from wild-type (WT) rats;
In this study, Noopept (omberacetam) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Noopept (omberacetam).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3661413501
03AnimalNot a test of Noopept (omberacetam) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In PINK1 knockout rats, CNS/CT-001 reversed hind limb strength loss to levels indistinguishable from wild-type rats.
In plain wordsIn PINK1 knockout rats, the formulation reversed hind limb strength loss to levels indistinguishable from wild-type rats.
Peptide
Noopept (omberacetam)
Outcome
DecreaseHind limb strength loss
Study
ratn: not reported in source
PINK1 knockout rats
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
Results show that intranasal administration of a formulation (CNS/CT-001) containing Forskolin (10 µM) and Noopept (20 nM) significantly reversed motor symptoms, loss of hind limb strength, and neurodegeneration of midbrain dopamine neurons in PINK1-KO rats and is indistinguishable from wild-type (WT) rats;
In this study, Noopept (omberacetam) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Noopept (omberacetam).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3661413502
04AnimalNot a test of Noopept (omberacetam) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In PINK1 knockout rats, CNS/CT-001 reversed midbrain dopamine neuron neurodegeneration to levels indistinguishable from wild-type rats.
In plain wordsIn PINK1 knockout rats, the formulation reversed dopamine neuron degeneration to levels indistinguishable from wild-type rats.
Peptide
Noopept (omberacetam)
Outcome
DecreaseMidbrain dopamine neuron neurodegeneration
Study
ratn: not reported in source
PINK1 knockout rats
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
Results show that intranasal administration of a formulation (CNS/CT-001) containing Forskolin (10 µM) and Noopept (20 nM) significantly reversed motor symptoms, loss of hind limb strength, and neurodegeneration of midbrain dopamine neurons in PINK1-KO rats and is indistinguishable from wild-type (WT) rats;
In this study, Noopept (omberacetam) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Noopept (omberacetam).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3661413503
05AnimalNot a test of Noopept (omberacetam) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In PINK1 knockout rats, CNS/CT-001 therapeutic effects were associated with increased brain PKA activity.
In plain wordsIn PINK1 knockout rats, formulation benefits were associated with increased brain PKA activity.
Peptide
Noopept (omberacetam)
Outcome
IncreaseBrain PKA activity
Study
ratn: not reported in source
PINK1 knockout rats
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
therapeutic effects associated with increased PKA activity and levels of BDNF and NGF in the brain.
In this study, Noopept (omberacetam) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Noopept (omberacetam).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3661413504
06AnimalNot a test of Noopept (omberacetam) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In PINK1 knockout rats, CNS/CT-001 therapeutic effects were associated with increased brain BDNF levels.
In plain wordsIn PINK1 knockout rats, formulation benefits were associated with increased brain BDNF levels.
Peptide
Noopept (omberacetam)
Outcome
IncreaseBrain BDNF levels
Study
ratn: not reported in source
PINK1 knockout rats
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
therapeutic effects associated with increased PKA activity and levels of BDNF and NGF in the brain.
In this study, Noopept (omberacetam) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Noopept (omberacetam).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3661413505
07AnimalNot a test of Noopept (omberacetam) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In PINK1 knockout rats, CNS/CT-001 therapeutic effects were associated with increased brain NGF levels.
In plain wordsIn PINK1 knockout rats, formulation benefits were associated with increased brain NGF levels.
Peptide
Noopept (omberacetam)
Outcome
IncreaseBrain NGF levels
Study
ratn: not reported in source
PINK1 knockout rats
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
therapeutic effects associated with increased PKA activity and levels of BDNF and NGF in the brain.
In this study, Noopept (omberacetam) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Noopept (omberacetam).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3661413506
08AnimalNot a test of Noopept (omberacetam) aloneAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In PINK1 knockout rats, cortical α-synuclein aggregate counts after CNS/CT-001 were indistinguishable from wild-type rats.
In plain wordsIn PINK1 knockout rats, cortical aggregate counts after the combination treatment were indistinguishable from wild-type rats.
Peptide
Noopept (omberacetam)
Outcome
No significant changeCortical α-synuclein aggregates versus wild-type
Study
ratn: not reported in source
PINK1 knockout rats
Comparator
Wild-type rats
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Source sentences
Summary
Intranasal administration of CNS/CT-001, but not Forskolin, significantly decreased the number of α-synuclein aggregates in the cortex of PINK1-KO rats, and is indistinguishable from WT rats.
In this study, Noopept (omberacetam) was a lab tool or a carrier, part of a mix, or the subject of a lab method. This result is not evidence about taking Noopept (omberacetam).
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3661413508

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
21 Oct 2026, 15:58 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
21 Oct 2026, 12:50 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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