Carnosine protects rats under global ischemia

Rat brain subjected to 45-min global ischemia is characterized by decreased activity of K-p-nitrophenyl phosphatase and monoamine oxidase B and a diso rdering of the membrane bilayer by reactive oxygen species attack, the latt er being monitored by the fluorescence of the membrane fluorescent probe, 1 -anilino,8-naphtalene sulphonate (ANS). Ischemic injury resulted in 67% mor tality of the animals. In the group of animals pre-treated with the neurope ptide carnosine the mortality was only 30%, At the same time, carnosine pro tected both the activity of the above-mentioned enzymes and the brain membr ane disordering, which was also tested by ANS fluorescence. The conclusion was made that carnosine protects the brain against oxidative injury and the reby increases the survival of the animals. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Inc.