PMID: 19662538
Shadrina et al./PubMed/2010
Why It Matters
This caught my attention because it shows peptides can have region-specific effects on growth factors critical for neuroplasticity. The fact that Semax simultaneously suppresses neurotrophins in one brain area while boosting them in another suggests these compounds aren't simple on/off switches — the brain's response is more nuanced. That said, this is rat data with gene expression measurements, not human cognitive outcomes, so we're several steps removed from knowing if this translates to actual benefits.
Key Findings
- Semax decreased both NGF and BDNF gene expression in hippocampus 20 minutes after administration in rats
- The same dose increased NGF and BDNF expression in the frontal cortex at the 20-minute timepoint
- In the retina, BDNF expression increased 90 minutes after administration while NGF levels remained relatively stable
- Effects were time-dependent, with measurements taken at 20 min, 40 min, 90 min, 3 hours, 8 hours, and 24 hours showing different patterns
- The study only measured mRNA levels (gene expression), not actual protein levels or functional outcomes
Read the Paper↗PMID: 19662538