Impairment of electron transfer chain induced by acute carnosine administration in skeletal muscle of young rats.

Macarini JR, Maravai SG, Cararo JH, Dimer NW, Gonçalves CL, Kist LW, Bogo MR, Schuck PF, Streck EL, Ferreira GC

BioMed research international4 May 2014Cited by 10 (Europe PMC)

PMID24877122PMCIDPMC4024420DOI10.1155/2014/632986PepBankPUB-24877122

Summary

Serum carnosinase deficiency is an inherited disorder that leads to an accumulation of carnosine in the brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, skeletal muscle, and other tissues of affected patients. Considering that high levels of carnosine are associated with neurological dysfunction and that the pathophysiological mechanisms involved in serum carnosinase deficiency remain poorly understood, we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats. We observed a significant decrease of complexes I-III and II activities in animals receiving carnosine acutely, as compared to control group. However, no significant alterations in respiratory chain complexes, citric acid cycle enzymes, and creatine kinase activities were found between rats receiving carnosine chronically and control group animals. As compared to control group, mRNA levels of NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM were unchanged. The present findings indicate that electron transfer through the respiratory chain is impaired in skeletal muscle of rats receiving carnosine acutely. In case these findings are confirmed by further studies and ATP depletion is also observed, impairment of bioenergetics could be considered a putative mechanism responsible for the muscle damage observed in serum carnosinase-deficient patients.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study8

8 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In young rats, acute carnosine significantly decreased skeletal muscle complex I-III activity versus controls.
In plain wordsIn rats, acute carnosine reduced muscle complex I-III activity compared with controls.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
DecreaseAcute complex I-III activity
Study
ratsn: not reported in source
young Wistar rat skeletal muscle
Comparator
control group
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
We observed a significant decrease of complexes I-III and II activities in animals receiving carnosine acutely, as compared to control group.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2487712201
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In young rats, acute carnosine significantly decreased skeletal muscle complex II activity versus controls.
In plain wordsIn rats, acute carnosine reduced muscle complex II activity compared with controls.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
DecreaseAcute complex II activity
Study
ratsn: not reported in source
young Wistar rat skeletal muscle
Comparator
control group
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
We observed a significant decrease of complexes I-III and II activities in animals receiving carnosine acutely, as compared to control group.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2487712202
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, chronic carnosine did not significantly alter respiratory chain complex activities versus controls.
In plain wordsIn rats, chronic carnosine did not significantly change muscle respiratory chain activity compared with controls.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeChronic respiratory chain complex activities
Study
ratsn: not reported in source
young Wistar rat skeletal muscle
Comparator
control group
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
However, no significant alterations in respiratory chain complexes, citric acid cycle enzymes, and creatine kinase activities were found between rats receiving carnosine chronically and control group animals.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2487712203
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, chronic carnosine did not significantly alter citric acid cycle enzyme activities versus controls.
In plain wordsIn rats, chronic carnosine did not significantly change muscle citric acid cycle enzyme activity compared with controls.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeChronic citric acid cycle enzyme activities
Study
ratsn: not reported in source
young Wistar rat skeletal muscle
Comparator
control group
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
However, no significant alterations in respiratory chain complexes, citric acid cycle enzymes, and creatine kinase activities were found between rats receiving carnosine chronically and control group animals.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2487712204
05AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats, chronic carnosine did not significantly alter creatine kinase activity versus controls.
In plain wordsIn rats, chronic carnosine did not significantly change muscle creatine kinase activity compared with controls.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeChronic creatine kinase activity
Study
ratsn: not reported in source
young Wistar rat skeletal muscle
Comparator
control group
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
However, no significant alterations in respiratory chain complexes, citric acid cycle enzymes, and creatine kinase activities were found between rats receiving carnosine chronically and control group animals.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2487712205
06AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats receiving carnosine, skeletal muscle NRF-1 mRNA levels remained unchanged versus controls.
In plain wordsIn rats, carnosine did not change muscle NRF-1 gene activity compared with controls.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeNRF-1 mRNA
Study
ratsn: not reported in source
young Wistar rat skeletal muscle
Comparator
control group
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
As compared to control group, mRNA levels of NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM were unchanged.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2487712206
07AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats receiving carnosine, skeletal muscle PGC-1α mRNA levels remained unchanged versus controls.
In plain wordsIn rats, carnosine did not change muscle PGC-1α gene activity compared with controls.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changePGC-1alpha mRNA
Study
ratsn: not reported in source
young Wistar rat skeletal muscle
Comparator
control group
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
As compared to control group, mRNA levels of NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM were unchanged.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2487712207
08AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In rats receiving carnosine, skeletal muscle TFAM mRNA levels remained unchanged versus controls.
In plain wordsIn rats, carnosine did not change muscle TFAM gene activity compared with controls.
Peptide
L-carnosine
Outcome
No significant changeTFAM mRNA
Study
ratsn: not reported in source
young Wistar rat skeletal muscle
Comparator
control group
Outcome group
Mitochondrial function · Musculoskeletal
Studied dose
Dose not stated
Source sentences
Summary
As compared to control group, mRNA levels of NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM were unchanged.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
we investigated the in vivo effects of carnosine on bioenergetics parameters, namely, respiratory chain complexes (I-III, II, and II-III), malate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase, and creatine kinase activities and the expression of mitochondrial-specific transcription factors (NRF-1, PGC-1α , and TFAM) in skeletal muscle of young Wistar rats.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-2487712208

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
27 Oct 2026, 18:20 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
27 Oct 2026, 16:32 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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