Effect of carnosine treatment on oxidative stress in serum,apoB-containing lipoproteins fraction and erythrocytes of aged rats

One of the mechanisms underlying the aging process is proposed to be oxidative damage by free radicals. carnosine (β-alanyl-lhistidine) is a dipeptide with antioxidant properties. in this study,we investigated the effect of carnosine supplementation on oxidative stress in serum,apob-containing lipoproteins (ldl + vldl) and erythrocytes of young and aged rats. at the initiation of the study,young and aged rats were 5 and 22 months old,respectively. carnosine (250 mg/kg,daily,ip) was administered for 1 month to young and aged rats. we found that serum malondialdehyde (mda) and diene conjugate (dc) levels and endogenous dc and copper-inducedmdalevels in the ldl+ vldlfraction increased in aged rats,but there was no change in plasma antioxidant activity. endogenous dc and h2o2-induced mda levels were also higher,but glutathione (gsh) levels were lower in erythrocytes of aged rats. administration of carnosine for 1 month to aged rats resulted in decreased levels of mda and dc in serum,the ldl + vldl fraction and erythrocytes and increased levels of gsh in erythrocytes. our findings indicate that in vivo carnosine treatment may be useful for the decrease in aged-induced oxidative stress in serum,the ldl + vldl fraction and erythrocytes. © 2010 by institute of pharmacology polish academy of sciences.