title: Carnosine has antinociceptive properties in the inflammation-induced nociceptive response in mice.
abstract: Carnosine is a biologically active dipeptide that is found in fish and chicken muscle. Recent studies have revealed that carnosine has neuroprotective activity in zinc-induced neural cell apoptosis and ischemic stroke. In the present study, we examined the expression of carnosine in the spinal cord, and the antinociceptive potency of carnosine in a mouse model of inflammation-induced nociceptive pain. Immunohistochemical studies with antiserum against carnosine showed an abundance of carnosine-immunoreactivity in the dorsal horn of the mouse spinal cord. Double-immunostaining techniques revealed that carnosine was expressed in the neurons and astrocytes in the spinal cord. Oral administration of carnosine attenuated the number of writhing behaviors induced by the intraperitoneal administration of 0.6% acetic acid. Treatment with carnosine also attenuated the second phase, but not the first phase, of the nociceptive response to formalin. Moreover, intrathecal, but not intraplanter, administration of carnosine attenuated the second phase of the nociceptive response to formalin. Our immunohistochemical and behavioral data suggest that carnosine has antinociceptive effects toward inflammatory pain, which may be mediated by the attenuation of nociceptive sensitization in the spinal cord.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kyushu University of Health and Welfare, 1714-1 Yoshino-machi, Nobeoka-shi, Miyazaki 882-8508 Japan. ohsawa@phar.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohsawa
authors.forename: Junpei
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mutoh
authors.forename: Megumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Asato
authors.forename: Shohei
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ono
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hisa
authors.forename: Junzo
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kamei
mesh_terms: D019342:Acetic Acid / Q000009:adverse effects; D000700:Analgesics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D002336:Carnosine / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation / Q000187:drug effects; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D059225:Nociception / Q000187:drug effects*; D059226:Nociceptive Pain / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D005557:Formaldehyde; D002336:Carnosine; D019342:Acetic Acid