PMID- 25758106 OWN - NLM STAT- MEDLINE DCOM- 20160204 LR - 20181113 IS - 1438-2199 (Electronic) IS - 0939-4451 (Print) IS - 0939-4451 (Linking) VI - 47 IP - 6 DP - 2015 Jun TI - beta-Alanine supplemented diets enhance behavioral resilience to stress exposure in an animal model of PTSD. PG - 1247-57 LID - 10.1007/s00726-015-1952-y [doi] AB - This study investigated the effects of beta-alanine (BA) ingestion on the behavioral and neuroendocrine response of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in a murine model. Animals were fed a normal diet with or without (PL) BA supplementation (100 mg kg(-1)) for 30 days. Animals were then exposed to a predator-scent stress (PSS) or a sham (UNEX). Behaviors were evaluated using an elevated plus maze (EPM) and acoustic startle response (ASR) 7 days following exposure to the PSS. Corticosterone concentrations (CS), expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and brain carnosine concentrations were analyzed a day later. Animals in PSS+PL spent significantly less time in the open arms and in the number of entries in the EPM than PSS+BA, UNEX+BA, or UNEX+PL. Animals in PSS+BA had comparable scores to UNEX+BA. Anxiety index was higher (p < 0.05) in PSS+PL compared to PSS+BA or animals that were unexposed. ASR and freezing were greater (p < 0.05) in animals exposed to PSS compared to animals unexposed. CS expression was higher (p < 0.05) in animals exposed to PSS compared to unexposed animals. Brain carnosine concentrations in the hippocampus and other brain sections were significantly greater in animals supplemented with BA compared to PL. BDNF expression in the CA1 and DG subregions of the hippocampus was lower (p < 0.05) in animals exposed and fed a normal diet compared to animals exposed and supplemented with BA, or animals unexposed. In conclusion, BA supplementation in rats increased brain carnosine concentrations and resulted in a reduction in PTSD-like behavior, which may be mediated in part by maintaining BDNF expression in the hippocampus. FAU - Hoffman, Jay R AU - Hoffman JR AD - Institute of Exercise Physiology and Wellness, Sport and Exercise Science, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA, jay.hoffman@ucf.edu. FAU - Ostfeld, Ishay AU - Ostfeld I FAU - Stout, Jeffrey R AU - Stout JR FAU - Harris, Roger C AU - Harris RC FAU - Kaplan, Zeev AU - Kaplan Z FAU - Cohen, Hagit AU - Cohen H LA - eng PT - Journal Article DEP - 20150311 PL - Austria TA - Amino Acids JT - Amino acids JID - 9200312 RN - 11P2JDE17B (beta-Alanine) SB - IM MH - Animals MH - Behavior, Animal/*drug effects MH - *Dietary Supplements MH - Disease Models, Animal MH - Male MH - Rats MH - Rats, Sprague-Dawley MH - *Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic/diet therapy/physiopathology MH - *Stress, Psychological/diet therapy/physiopathology MH - beta-Alanine/*pharmacology PMC - PMC4429141 EDAT- 2015/03/12 06:00 MHDA- 2016/02/05 06:00 PMCR- 2015/03/11 CRDT- 2015/03/12 06:00 PHST- 2015/02/23 00:00 [received] PHST- 2015/02/25 00:00 [accepted] PHST- 2015/03/12 06:00 [entrez] PHST- 2015/03/12 06:00 [pubmed] PHST- 2016/02/05 06:00 [medline] PHST- 2015/03/11 00:00 [pmc-release] AID - 1952 [pii] AID - 10.1007/s00726-015-1952-y [doi] PST - ppublish SO - Amino Acids. 2015 Jun;47(6):1247-57. doi: 10.1007/s00726-015-1952-y. Epub 2015 Mar 11.