The dipeptide carnosine constricts rabbit saphenous vein as a zinc complex apparently via a serotonergic receptor
Laboratory studyOther animalsWith zinc (as zinc-carnosine complex)
This study tested carnosine together with zinc (as zinc-carnosine complex). Its results cannot be assigned to carnosine alone. More combination studies.
- Design
- Laboratory study
- What was measured
- Tension in isolated rabbit saphenous vein rings exposed to carnosine 0.1 to 10 mM with and without zinc; receptor antagonists.
What the authors reported
Carnosine at 0.1 to 10 mM produced sustained contractures with greater efficacy than noradrenaline; anserine, homocarnosine, histidine and beta-alanine were ineffective. Zinc raised maximum tension (127.5 +/- 13.1% of control at 10 microM total zinc) and lowered the carnosine concentration for half-maximal tension from 1.23 mM to 17.0 microM at 15 microM zinc. Contractures were reduced at low calcium, unaffected by adrenoceptor antagonists and blocked by serotonergic antagonists including ketanserin and methiothepin. The authors conclude carnosine acts as a zinc-carnosine complex at a vascular muscle receptor.
Limits of this study
Isolated tissue; sample size not stated. Full text not read.
Source
PubMed 8887763 · doi:10.1113/jphysiol.1996.sp021613
Entry checked against PubMed abstract (E-utilities) on 2026-10-19. The dose shown is the dose the researchers used. It is not a recommendation. How to read this page.