Cerebrolysin enhances functional recovery following focal cerebral infarction in rats.
BACKGROUND
Cerebrolysin, a preparation derived from porcine brain, contains a mixture of neurotrophic peptides. We tested the effects of Cerebrolysin in a model of stroke recovery in rats.


METHODS
Cerebrolysin (1.0, 2.5, or 5.0 ml/kg) was administered once daily intraperitoneally for 21 days, starting 24 hours after focal cerebral infarction (stroke) due to middle cerebral artery occlusion in mature rats.


RESULTS
Enhancement of sensorimotor recovery, as assessed by forelimb and hindlimb placing and body swing tests, was seen with Cerebrolysin treatment, especially at the 2.5 ml/kg dose. At this dose, enhanced recovery was found when Cerebrolysin treatment was begun at 24 or 48 (but not 72 hours) after stroke onset. There were no effects on body weight or infarct volume when Cerebrolysin was administered in this manner.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that Cerebrolysin may be a useful treatment for enhancing neurological recovery after stroke.
Ren
JingMei
J
ViaCell Neuroscience, ViaCell, Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA.
Sietsma
Dana
D
Qiu
Shumei
S
Moessler
Herbert
H
Finklestein
Seth P
SP
D000596:Amino Acids / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020127:Recovery of Function / Q000187:drug effects*; D020521:Stroke / Q000150:complications; D013997:Time Factors
D000596:Amino Acids; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; C006952:cerebrolysin