Paweł Berezka

Dr. Paweł Berezka


Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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Journal Article
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NPNatalia Piekarczyk
Natalia Piekarczyk
PBPaweł Berezka
Paweł Berezka
KDKalina Domkowicz
Kalina Domkowicz
DMDorota Myślińska
Dorota Myślińska
JKJan Jacek Kaczor
Jan Jacek Kaczor
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by impaired neurotrophic support, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction. Using the intracerebroventricular streptozotocin (ICV-STZ) rat model of sporadic AD, we investigated whether vitamin D3 (VitD3) and dimethyl fumarate (DMF), administered alone or in combination, modulate hippocampal neurotrophin-related signaling and redox balance. Animals were assigned to SHAM, STZ, VITD, DMF, and COMBO groups, representing control, ICV-STZ, VitD3-treated ICV-STZ, DMF-treated ICV-STZ, and combined VitD3 + DMF-treated ICV-STZ animals, respectively. Hippocampal neurotrophin processing (proBDNF and mature BDNF), downstream signaling (Akt and pAkt), IGF-1 content, mitochondrial oxoglutarate dehydrogenase (OGDH) content, citrate synthase (CS) activity, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity were assessed. STZ administration showed a trend toward reduced mature BDNF content compared with the SHAM group (p = 0.07), whereas combined VitD3 and DMF treatment significantly increased mature BDNF content compared with the STZ group. The mature BDNF/proBDNF ratio was reduced in the STZ group compared with the SHAM group and tended to be higher in the COMBO group compared with the STZ group (p = 0.09). proBDNF content remained unchanged. IGF-1, pTrkB, total Akt, and pAkt content did not differ significantly between groups. The pAkt/Akt ratio showed a trend toward reduction in the STZ group compared with SHAM group (p = 0.09). GPx activity increased in the STZ group, while CS activity and OGDH content were not significantly altered. These findings indicate that STZ-induced neurodegeneration is characterized by redox-associated uncoupling of neurotrophic signaling rather than mitochondrial disruption. Combined VitD3 and DMF treatment partially modulated neurotrophic signaling, supporting a limited but measurable neuroprotective effect.