[Protective effect of the neuropeptide homocarnosine in hyperbaric oxygenation].

Homocarnosine, at a dose of 10 mg per 100 g of animal body mass administered intraperitoneally within 15 min before hyperbaric oxygenation with 0.7 MPa of oxygen, exhibited a protective effect. After administration of the neuropeptide into animals before hyperbaric oxygenation a latent period of oxygen convulsions was increased; content of homocarnosine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) was maintained at the level found in brain of control animals. In brain tissue of unprotected animals content of homocarnosine and GABA was decreased due to the oxygen treatment. GABA was less effective, its protective dose exceeded 10-fold the dose of homocarnosine. The neuropeptide exhibited antioxidant properties in reactions of lipid peroxidation under normal conditions and in hyperbaric oxygenation in vitro. The antioxidant activity of GABA was distinctly lower as compared with homocarnosine.