Antioxidant systemic effect of short-term Cerebrolysin® administration

Abstract

Levels of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were determinate in serum of intact rats (INT) and those with septohippocampal pathway lesion (SHPL), which recieved Cerebrolysin® (CRB) or saline solution (SAL) for a week. We found that Cerebrolysin® induces a decrease on the CAT and SOD levels. Decrease of CAT levels (19.1) in the group of SHPL-CRB was higher than the values obtained (57.3) in SHPL-SAL group. The lowest CAT levels were detected in the INT-CER group (16.7). The SOD levels obtained in SHPL-CER group (9.84) were also smaller than those obtained in the SHPL-SAL group (14.9) which showed the highest levels of SOD, while the INT animals showed the lowest levels (7.6). In addition, the SHPL animals mortality was of 18% for the CER group against 43% for SAL group. We suggest the Cerebrolysin® effect on CAT and SOD activity is related with a beneficial antioxidative role which may have potential application on brain injury.