https://doi.org/10.1140/epjs/s11734-026-02179-0
Regular Article
Differences in brain drainage and cognitive function between BALB/c and C57Bl/6 mice
Department of Biology, Saratov State University, Astrakhanskaya 82, 410012, Saratov, Russia
a
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Received:
30
December
2025
Accepted:
30
January
2026
Published online:
18
February
2026
Abstract
Mice of C57BL/6 and BALB/c strains are frequently used in preclinical studies of new drugs and technologies for brain treatment. However, there are significant differences in both anatomy and brain function between these two strains. This is important to consider when planning studies investigating the function of the meningeal lymphatic vessels and the brain drainage system. Indeed, in this study, we clearly demonstrate that the larger ventricles and more intensive brain drainage in C57BL/6 mice are associated with a faster rate of formation of the Pavlovian "light-food" conditioned reflex than in BALB/c mice. Thus, for the first time, we have demonstrated the relationship between the brain drainage system and the cognitive function. These results provide an important platform for a deeper understanding of strain differences between C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice and for designing studies of functions of the meningeal lymphatic vessels and the brain drainage system.
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© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to EDP Sciences, Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature 2026
Springer Nature or its licensor (e.g. a society or other partner) holds exclusive rights to this article under a publishing agreement with the author(s) or other rightsholder(s); author self-archiving of the accepted manuscript version of this article is solely governed by the terms of such publishing agreement and applicable law.
