Protective effects of carnosine against closed head injury in mice / 浙江大学学报·医学版

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate the protective effects of carnosine against experimental closed head injury (CHI) in mice.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>The CHI model was established by free-falling weight-drop. Carnosine (250 mg/kg or 500 mg/kg) was administered intraperitoneally 30 min before brain trauma, then q.d for 7 d; while normal saline was administrated for control group. The neurological defect was evaluated by neurological severity score (NSS) within 7 d; the survival rate and the histological alternations were observed.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Carnosine prevented the body weight loss of mice at dose of 500 mg/kg; significantly increased the survival rate, and reduced the neurological defect and histological damage at dose of 250 and 500 mg/kg.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Carnosine can attenuate closed head injury in mice.</p>