Carnosine exerts neuroprotective effect against 6-hydroxydopamine toxicity in hemiparkinsonian rat.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common disorder of the central nervous system due to the degeneration of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons. Current treatments for PD have a symptomatic relief strategy with no prevention of disease progression. Due to the neuroprotective and antiapoptotic potential of the natural dipeptide carnosine, this study was conducted to assess its beneficial effect in 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA)-induced model of PD in rat. Unilateral intrastriatal 6-OHDA-lesioned rats received i.p. carnosine at a dose of 250 mg/kg twice at an interval of 24 h, which started presurgery. Apomorphine caused contralateral rotations, a significant reduction in the number of Nissl-stained neurons on the left side of the substantia nigra, and increased apoptosis was observed with enhanced oxidative stress burden in 6-OHDA-lesioned rats. Carnosine pretreatment significantly reduced rotations, attenuated apoptosis, and restored malondialdehyde and nitrite content and catalase activity with no significant effect on reduced glutathione (GSH). These results indicate that prelesion administration of carnosine could exert neuroprotection against 6-OHDA toxicity, and this may be of benefit in patients with early PD.