Neuroprotective effect of carnosine and cyclosporine-A against inflammation, apoptosis, and oxidative brain damage after closed head injury in immature rats.

AbstractContext: Traumatic brain injury in the pediatric population can have a great economic and emotional impact on both the child's family and society.Objective: The present study aimed to compare the effects of carnosine (CAR) and/or cyclosporine A (CyA) on oxidative brain damage after closed head injury (CHI) in immature rats.Materials and methods: Thirty-day-old rat pups were divided into five groups: non-traumatic control group, trauma group underwent CHI, trauma group injected with CAR (200 mg/kg, i.p.) following CHI for 7 d, trauma group injected with CyA (20 mg/kg, i.p.) given 15 min and 24 h after CHI, and trauma group treated with CAR and CyA. At the end of the treatment, rats were sacrificed; blood and brains were collected for assessing different biochemical parameters.Results: Trauma significantly increased brain level of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, glucose, calcium, inflammatory mediators. Brain DNA damage was confirmed by comet assay and the significant increase in brain caspase-3 acti...