Carnosine stabilization of the normal erythrocyte membranes and in experimental diabetes

The effect of carnosine on red blood cell membranes was studied in the in vitro and in vivo experiments. Carnosine (70-720 microM) is shown to protect healthy donors' red blood cells from acidic hemolysis increasing population of stable red blood cells and postponing time to maximal rate of hemolysis. It was demonstrated on the model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes in rats that carnosine treatment (50 mg/kg/day during 7 days, per os) prevents a decrease in the hemolytic stability of red blood cells in diabetic animals. The findings suggest usefulness of carnosine as a possible treatment of diabetes patients.