Astrocytic secretome enhances hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial memory in mice

In mice, researchers investigated whether factors secreted by astrocytes could rescue adult hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive performance. The team treated young and aged wild-type mice, along with two distinct models of Alzheimer's disease, using an astrocyte-conditioned solution. In both young and aged wild-type mice, the secretome increased hippocampal neurogenesis and improved outcomes in the object location test. In THY-Tau22 mice, which model tau pathology, the treatment restored both neurogenesis and cognitive function. In amyloid-prone APP/PS1 mice, the solution reduced gliogenesis while rescuing neurogenesis and spatial memory deficits. The treatment also attenuated circulating pro-inflammatory cytokines and decreased the reactivity of microglia surrounding amyloid plaques.