ISX-9 is a small molecule inducer of adult neural stem cell differentiation both in vitro and in vivo. At 2.5-20 μM, ISX-9 has been shown to dose-dependently trigger neurogenesis and block gliogenesis in adult rat hippocampal stem cells through a calcium-activated signaling pathway dependent on myocyte-enhancer factor 2-dependent gene expression. ISX-9 administered at 20 mg/kg for 12 days to mice has been reported to improve hippocampal function as evidenced by enhanced spatial memory ability in the Morris water maze test.
