Published Online
on October 4, 2007

A more recent version of this article appeared on November 1, 2007

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Submitted on March 20, 2007
Revised on April 25, 2007
Accepted on April 30, 2007

Carnosine Is Neuroprotective Against Permanent Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Mice

G. K. Rajanikant PhD; Daniel Zemke PhD; Marie-Claude Senut PhD; Mark B. Frenkel; Alex F. Chen MD, PhD; Rishi Gupta MD; and Arshad Majid MD^*

From the Department of Neurology and Ophthalmology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Mich.

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: arshad.majid{at}ht.msu.edu.

Background and Purpose—Carnosine is a naturally occurring dipeptide with multiple neuroprotective properties. In addition, it is well tolerated in high doses with minimal side effects. The purposes of this study were to determine whether carnosine is neuroprotective in permanent focal cerebral ischemia and to determine potential mechanisms of neuroprotection.

Methods—We investigated the efficacy of carnosine in a mouse model of permanent focal cerebral ischemia. The effects of carnosine were investigated with respect to neuronal damage and infarct formation, endogenous antioxidant status, and matrix metalloproteinase activity.

Results—Carnosine significantly decreased infarct size and neuronal damage when administered at time points both before and after the induction of ischemia. Carnosine also decreased reactive oxygen species levels in the ischemic brain, preserved normal glutathione levels, and decreased matrix metalloproteinase protein levels and activity.

Conclusions—Carnosine is neuroprotective in focal cerebral ischemia and appears to influence deleterious pathological processes that are activated after the onset of ischemia.

Key words: brain ischemia • carnosine • neuroprotective agents

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