Effects of cerebrolysin on behavioral changes and the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway in the prefrontal cortex of male mice in the ketamine model of schizophrenia.
Molecular biology reports July 16, 2025 Vida Mafikandi, Leila Hosseini, Fatemehsadat Seyedaghamiri et al.
A peptide derived from pig brain, Cerebrolysin, reduced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors, improved spatial learning and memory, and increased locomotor activity in a mouse model of schizophrenia induced by ketamine. It lowered kynurenine levels and raised tryptophan levels in the prefrontal cortex, indicating modulation of the tryptophan/kynurenine pathway. However, Cerebrolysin did not significantly affect the inflammatory markers NLRP3 and IL-1β compared to the ketamine-only group. The findings suggest the neuroprotective effects of Cerebrolysin are linked to its action on this metabolic pathway rather than on these specific inflammatory factors.