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Cryoprotective Characteristics of L-Carnosine Dipeptide (Β-Alanyl-L-Histidine)

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Abstract

Dipeptide (β-alanyl-L-histidine) has been found in significant amounts in muscle and brain mammals, especially in olfactory structures. L-carnosine exhibits many protective effects under the action of various cytotoxic factors on cells. We used slices of the olfactory cortex of rats to study the cryoprotective characteristic of L-carnosine in the process of cryopreservation (CP). Changes were analyzed in the activity of N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors (NMDARs) when registering NMDA potentials caused by electrical stimulation of the lateral of olfactory tract. The brain slices were preincubated with L-carnosine (20 mM) in an artificial cerebral solution, frozen (–10°C), and after prolonged CP (30 days) warmed up to 37°C. Before and after CP, changes were determined in the amplitudes of NMDA potentials. Dipeptide was found to optimize the pH of a freezing solution after CP and retained the activity of NMDARs determined by the amplitude of NMDA potentials. After CP, L-carnosine contributed to the dehydration of excess free water from slices. The dipeptide inhibited the development of glutamate excitotoxicity in brain slices during CP and maintained the normal functioning of NMDARs. The obtained data prove that L-carnosine exhibits the properties of an endogenous cryoprotector in the nervous tissue.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The author is grateful to G.P. Smirnova for help with the experiments and S.E. Borovikov for technical assistance in setting up and maintaining the electrophysiological setup.

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  1. Pavlov Institute of Physiology of the Academy of Sciences, 199034, St. Petersburg, Russia

    A. A. Mokrushin

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  1. A. A. Mokrushin
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Correspondence to A. A. Mokrushin.

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Conflict of interest. The author declares that he has no conflicts of interest.

Statement on the welfare of animals. In work with animals, all international and national instructions of the Pavlov Institute of Physiology, Russian Academy of Sciences, on the care and use of animals in experiments, as well as ethical recommendations proposed by the Directive of the Council of the European Communities (86/609 EEC), were followed.

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Abbreviations: ACSP—artificial cerebrospinal solution; CP—cryopreservation; DMSO—dimethylsulfoxide; LOT—lateral olfactory tract; FP—focal potential; AMPA—a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methylisoxazole-4-propionic acid; AMPAR—AMPA receptor; NMDA—N-methyl-D-aspartate; NMDAR—NMDA receptor.

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Mokrushin, A.A. Cryoprotective Characteristics of L-Carnosine Dipeptide (Β-Alanyl-L-Histidine). Cell Tiss. Biol. 17, 398–405 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S1990519X23040041

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1990519X23040041

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