Neuroprotective Strategies in Preclinical Animal Models of Neurological Disorders

A special issue of Biology (ISSN 2079-7737). This special issue belongs to the section "Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 December 2026 | Viewed by 1287

Special Issue Editor


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
RTT Molecular Biology, Departmental Faculty of Medicine, UniCamillus, Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Via di Sant'Alessandro, 8, 00131 Rome, Italy
Interests: neuroprotective mechanisms; neurodegeneration; neurodegenerative disorders; molecular biology; neuronal death; synaptic dysfuncion; in vivo and in vitro experimental models
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

understanding neuroprotective mechanisms is crucial for tackling the onset and progression of neurological disorders, including a broad spectrum of neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental diseases. Preclinical animal models are essential tools for dissecting the molecular and cellular events underlying neuronal injury, synaptic dysfunction, neuroinflammation, glial alterations, and retinal–brain degeneration. These models provide unique platforms for investigating intracellular signaling pathways, microglia–neuron interactions, oxidative stress responses, and the contribution of protein post-translational modifications to neuronal vulnerability. They also support the development and validation of innovative therapeutic strategies, including peptide-based inhibitors, neurotrophins, antioxidants, gene-targeted interventions, and small-molecule modulators aimed at preventing neuronal loss and restoring synaptic function. We are pleased to invite you to submit your latest findings to this Special Issue.

This Special Issue aims to highlight advances in experimental neuroprotection using preclinical animal models, with a focus on molecular and cellular pathways that promote neuronal resilience and early therapeutic intervention. The topic aligns with the journal’s mission to publish biologically relevant studies that contribute to understanding human nervous system health and disease. This collection seeks to bridge mechanistic discoveries with translational potential, fostering interdisciplinary perspectives for the prevention and treatment of neurological disorders.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and review papers are welcome. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Neuroprotective mechanisms in neurodegeneration and neurodevelopmental disorders;
  • Synaptic protection and restoration of neuronal connectivity;
  • Microglia–neuron interaction and glial-mediated neuroprotection;
  • Intracellular signaling pathways and protein post-translational modifications;
  • Antioxidants, neurotrophins, peptide-based or gene-targeted therapies;
  • Biomarkers of neuroprotection and early therapeutic intervention;
  • Retina–brain axis and visual system models in neuroprotection.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Lucia Buccarello
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Biology is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • neuroprotective strategies
  • intracellular signaling pathways
  • synaptic dysfunction
  • oxidative stress: neuronal/cell death
  • preclinical animal models
  • neurodegeneration
  • microglia–neuron interaction
  • neurotrophin signaling
  • natural compounds

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

28 pages, 7001 KB  
Article
Puerarin Attenuates White Matter Injury and Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption After Intracerebral Hemorrhagic Stroke via cGAS-STING Axis
by Yetong Ouyang, Lijia Yu, Yue Shi, Zhilin Chen, Xiaohui Tang, Jiayi Jin, Zhexue Huang, Xiaoshun Tang, Bing Zhu and Xijin Wang
Biology 2026, 15(3), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/biology15030277 - 3 Feb 2026
Viewed by 1028
Abstract
White matter injury (WMI) and blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption contribute to neurological and cognitive deficits in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), with no effective pharmacological treatments available. Puerarin, with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant properties, exhibits neuroprotective potential. Here, mice subjected to ICH were treated with [...] Read more.
White matter injury (WMI) and blood–brain barrier (BBB) disruption contribute to neurological and cognitive deficits in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH), with no effective pharmacological treatments available. Puerarin, with anti-inflammatory, anti-apoptotic, and antioxidant properties, exhibits neuroprotective potential. Here, mice subjected to ICH were treated with puerarin for 14 days. Neurological function, cerebral perfusion, and BBB integrity were assessed using behavioral tests, laser speckle imaging, Evans blue assays, immunofluorescence, Western blotting, and MRI. Integrated transcriptomics, machine learning, network pharmacology, molecular docking, and dynamics simulations were used to identify key targets. Puerarin improved neurological outcomes, reduced BBB permeability, enhanced microvascular perfusion, and attenuated WMI. Twenty-six hub genes were identified, with PARP1 and AKT1 correlated with OLIG2 and MBP, enriched in the cGAS-STING and AKT1-mTOR pathways. Molecular simulations indicated stable puerarin–cGAS interactions, validated experimentally: puerarin suppressed cGAS-STING activation, reduced oligodendrocyte apoptosis, and promoted remyelination. These results provide new insights into ICH pathogenesis and support puerarin as a potential therapeutic agent for BBB disruption and WMI. Full article
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop