Dipeptide BDNF mimetic GSB-106 prevents depression-like behavior and cognitive impairment caused by ischemic stroke in rats

Relevance. Depression and cognitive impairment are common complications of acute cerebrovascular accidents. Disorders of hippocampal neuroplasticity associated with a decrease in BDNF expression are considered as one of the causes of these complicatio ns. A dimeric dipeptide mimetic of the BDNF loop 4, (bis (N - monosuccinyl -L- seryl -L- lysine) hexamethylenediamide) (GS B-106) was created at the V.V. Zakusov Research Institute of Pharmacology. GSB - 106 demonstrated antidepressant, neuroprotective and neuroregenera-tive properties in in vivo experiments. Objective . Experiments were performed on 40 male rats Wistar weighing 2 40–280 g. Purpose of the study is to investigate the effect of GSB - 106 on depression - like behavior and memory impairments in rats induced by middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO). Material and methods . GSB - 106 was injected intraperitoneally at a dose of 0.1 mg/kg for 21 days after surgery. Depressive - like behavior was detected in the forced swimming test, and memory impairments – in the novel object recognition test. Conclusions . GSB - 106 is a promising compound for further development as a drug for the treatment of post - stroke depression and cognitive impairment.