Effect of Carnosine on Age-Induced Changes in Senescence-Accelerated Mice

Abstract

The effect of carnosine on the life span and several brain biochemical characteristics in senescence-accelerated mice—prone 1 (SAMP1) was investigated. A 50% survival rate of animals treated with carnosine increased by 20% as compared to controls. Moreover, the number of animals that lived to an old age significantly increased. The effect of carnosine on life span was accompanied by a decrease in the level of ′-tiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), monoamine oxidase b (MAO b), and Na/K-ATPase activity. There was also an increase in glutamate binding to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. These observations are consistent with the conclusion that carnosine increases life span and quality of life by diminishing production of lipid peroxides and reducing the influence of reactive oxygen species (ROS) on membrane proteins.