RNA-Sequencing of carnosine treated wild-type BDF1 (WT) and transgenic Thy1-aSyn mice

Mitochondrial dysfunction plays a central role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study tested the hypothesis that the dipeptide carnosine would exert a beneficial effect in the Thy1-aSyn mouse model of PD, which displays mitochondrial dysfunction. Mitochondrial function and gene expression were evaluated in the midbrain after two months of carnosine administration by intranasal (IN) or drinking water routes of exposure. IN carnosine attenuated transcriptional changes in the midbrain in Thy1-aSyn mice. Additionally, IN-carnosine increased expression of mitochondria complexes and enhanced mitochondrial function, suggesting a potential neuroprotective role for IN-carnosine in PD. 5 treatment groups, 3 replicates/group, 1 WT control group, 1 WT treated with 2 mg of carnosine intranasally, 1 TG control group, 1 TG treated with 2 mg of carnosine intranasally, 1 TG treated with 10 mM carnosine in drinking water.