Cerebrolysin Ameliorates Age-Induced Dendritic Spine Degeneration and Memory Decline in C57BL6 Mice.

Aguilar-Hernández L, Flores-Gómez GD, Nacher J, Morales-Medina JC, Flores G

Neurochemical research29 Dec 2025Cited by 1 (Europe PMC)

PMID41460391PMCIDPMC12748144DOI10.1007/s11064-025-04627-0PepBankPUB-41460391

Summary

Aging is associated with progressive synaptic deterioration and cognitive decline; however, therapeutic strategies capable of restoring both structural and functional deficits remain limited. This study evaluated the effects of aging on dendritic spine dynamics and recognition memory across multiple brain regions, and evaluated whether chronic treatment with cerebrolysin (CBL) could ameliorate age-related alterations (3, 6, 12 and 18 months of age). We additionally assessed the effects of CBL on key molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in aged (18-month) C57BL6 mice. Aging impaired locomotor activity (12- and 18-month groups) and produced deficits in short- and long-term recognition memory relative to young controls. Notably, CBL selectively enhanced locomotion in 18-month group and improved short-term memory in the 12-month group. At the structural level, aging reduced spine density and decreased the proportion of thin and mushroom spines in the prefrontal cortex and dorsal hippocampus, whereas CBL treatment increased spine density in the dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, and promoted the formation of mature mushroom spines in a region and age-dependent manner. Importantly, CBL elevated β-actin, synaptophysin and brain-derived nerve factor expression across multiple regions in the 18-month group. This study provides the first integrated demonstration that CBL enhances dendritic spine maturation and dendritic structural remodeling while concurrently improving cognitive outcomes within the same cohort of aged animals. Collectively, our findings position CBL as a promising therapeutic candidate to counteract age-related synaptic loss and cognitive decline, advancing current understanding of neuroprotective interventions in aging.

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

Results from this study8

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

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In 18-month C57BL6 mice, CBL enhanced locomotion.
In plain wordsIn mice aged 18 months, CBL improved movement.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseLocomotion in older mice
Study
mousen: not reported in source
C57BL6 mice
Outcome group
Exercise and physical function · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Notably, CBL selectively enhanced locomotion in 18-month group and improved short-term memory in the 12-month group.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We additionally assessed the effects of CBL on key molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in aged (18-month) C57BL6 mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4146039101
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In 12-month C57BL6 mice, CBL improved short-term memory.
In plain wordsIn mice aged 12 months, CBL improved short-term memory.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseShort-term recognition memory
Study
mousen: not reported in source
C57BL6 mice
Outcome group
Cognition and memory · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Notably, CBL selectively enhanced locomotion in 18-month group and improved short-term memory in the 12-month group.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We additionally assessed the effects of CBL on key molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in aged (18-month) C57BL6 mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4146039102
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In aging C57BL6 mice, CBL increased dendritic spine density in the dorsal hippocampus.
In plain wordsIn mice, CBL increased spine density in the dorsal hippocampus.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseDorsal hippocampal spine density
Study
mousen: not reported in source
C57BL6 mice
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
whereas CBL treatment increased spine density in the dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, and promoted the formation of mature mushroom spines in a region and age-dependent manner.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We additionally assessed the effects of CBL on key molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in aged (18-month) C57BL6 mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4146039103
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In aging C57BL6 mice, CBL increased dendritic spine density in the basolateral amygdala.
In plain wordsIn mice, CBL increased spine density in the basolateral amygdala.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseBasolateral amygdala spine density
Study
mousen: not reported in source
C57BL6 mice
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
whereas CBL treatment increased spine density in the dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, and promoted the formation of mature mushroom spines in a region and age-dependent manner.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We additionally assessed the effects of CBL on key molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in aged (18-month) C57BL6 mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4146039104
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In aging C57BL6 mice, CBL promoted mature mushroom spine formation in a region- and age-dependent manner.
In plain wordsIn mice, CBL promoted mature mushroom spine formation, with effects that depended on age and brain region.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseMature mushroom spine formation
Study
mousen: not reported in source
C57BL6 mice
Outcome group
Neuroprotection · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
whereas CBL treatment increased spine density in the dorsal hippocampus and basolateral amygdala, and promoted the formation of mature mushroom spines in a region and age-dependent manner.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We additionally assessed the effects of CBL on key molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in aged (18-month) C57BL6 mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4146039105
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In 18-month C57BL6 mice, CBL increased β-actin expression across multiple brain regions.
In plain wordsIn mice aged 18 months, CBL increased β-actin expression across several brain regions.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
Increaseβ-actin expression
Study
mousen: not reported in source
C57BL6 mice
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Importantly, CBL elevated β-actin, synaptophysin and brain-derived nerve factor expression across multiple regions in the 18-month group.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We additionally assessed the effects of CBL on key molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in aged (18-month) C57BL6 mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4146039106
07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In 18-month C57BL6 mice, CBL increased synaptophysin expression across multiple brain regions.
In plain wordsIn mice aged 18 months, CBL increased synaptophysin expression across several brain regions.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseSynaptophysin expression
Study
mousen: not reported in source
C57BL6 mice
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Importantly, CBL elevated β-actin, synaptophysin and brain-derived nerve factor expression across multiple regions in the 18-month group.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We additionally assessed the effects of CBL on key molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in aged (18-month) C57BL6 mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4146039107
08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In 18-month C57BL6 mice, CBL increased brain-derived nerve factor expression across multiple regions.
In plain wordsIn mice aged 18 months, CBL increased brain-derived nerve factor expression across several regions.
Peptide
Cerebrolysin
Outcome
IncreaseBrain-derived nerve factor expression
Study
mousen: not reported in source
C57BL6 mice
Outcome group
Receptor activity and mechanism · Nervous system and cognition
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
Importantly, CBL elevated β-actin, synaptophysin and brain-derived nerve factor expression across multiple regions in the 18-month group.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
We additionally assessed the effects of CBL on key molecular markers of synaptic plasticity in aged (18-month) C57BL6 mice.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-4146039108

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
14 Oct 2026, 05:02 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
14 Oct 2026, 01:46 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

Subjects

Terms as the source lists them.

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