Astrocytic secretome enhances hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial memory in mice
Treatment with astrocyte-conditioned solution also rescued cognitive deficits and lowered inflammation in mouse models of Alzheimer's disease.
bioRxiv · Vilademunt M et al. · Paper published 29 Sep 2026
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.
Why it matters
Astrocytic support naturally declines during pathological brain aging and neurodegeneration. Identifying beneficial components of the astrocytic secretome may highlight pathways to sustain adult neurogenesis and preserve memory.
Caveats
This work is a preprint that has not yet undergone peer review. Furthermore, all results were obtained in mouse models and have not been confirmed in humans.
Written from the paper’s abstract, and every claim checked against it before publishing. Read the paper for the full methods and data.
The paper
The astrocytic secretome increases adult hippocampal neurogenesis and spatial memory in health and disease
Vilademunt M, Carron C, Casse F et al.
bioRxiv · 29 Sep 2026 · Preprint, not yet peer-reviewed
- Relevance
- Relevant
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- Notable
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- Animals
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- Preprint
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