Physiological action of carnosine

Abstract

The material used in this work was produced by Drs. Louis Baumann and Thorsten Ingwaldsen. The natural carnosine was prepared by them from extracts of horse muscle, and the synthetic was produced by them in their work on the synthesis of carnosine from histidine and β-Alanine. For the method of preparation and the evidence for the chemical purity of the carnosine reference is made to the article by Baumann and Ingwaldsen. 1

The action of the natural and synthetic substance was found to be identical in all experiments. When tried separately neither the histidine nor alanine used by Baumann and Ingwaldsen in their synthesis of carnosine gave the physiological action produced by carnosine. Complete hydrolysis under conditions which do not destroy the action of other known substances having a similar action, such as histamine, did destroy the effectiveness of the carnosine. It therefore appears certain that the physiological actions described are due to the peculiarity of the dipeptid, carnosine, and not to any impurities.

Subcutaneous injection of 2 gm. in 11 K. dog caused vomiting, diarrhea and the general symptoms of severe toxic shock. Intravenous injection of 10 mg. in 1 1/2 K. cat under ether anesthesia, gave same result as to intestinal activity and carotid blood pressure fell from a normal of 124 mm. to 94 mm. and on a second injection of 16 mg. it fell from a normal of 109 mm. to 85 mm. or a drop of from 24 to 28 mm. The general systemic effect of the carnosine was similar to if not identical with that produced by histamine, but relcluired larger quantities to be effective. Since our experiments upon intact animals, Goldschmidt 2 has attempted to show that the action of carnosine upon the circulatory system is entirely limited to the splanchnic area.