Short Peptides Boost Survival in Old Rats After Carotid Artery Occlusion

Cerebral ischemia, often caused by carotid artery occlusion, is a major cause of stroke, leading to significant neurological damage and mortality, especially in aging populations. Current treatments for stroke often have limited efficacy, highlighting an urgent need for novel neuroprotective strategies. This study investigated the effects of two short peptides, Pinealon and Cortexin, on behavioral outcomes and caspase-3 activity in old rats following experimental carotid artery occlusion, aiming to identify potential neuroprotective agents.

The introduction of the short peptides generally promoted a survival rate in animals subjected to carotid artery occlusion, though specific quantitative data for this improvement was not provided. > The study found that the introduction of short peptides, Pinealon and Cortexin, generally promoted a survival rate in old rats following carotid artery occlusion, indicating a potential neuroprotective effect. Specifically, rats treated with Pinealon before occlusion showed an increased behavioral dream time and a reduced position-finding behavior, motivational behavior, and motor performance. Similarly, rats administered Cortexin before occlusion also demonstrated a raise of behavioral dream time. Furthermore, Pinealon treatment led to a moderate increase in caspase-3 activity in both false-operated (sham) animals and those in the carotid artery occlusion model, with no specific fold-change or p-value reported. No specific quantitative data (e.g., percentages, p-values) were provided for any of these behavioral or biochemical changes.