Effects of dietary tyrosine, phenylalanine, and tryptophan on aggression in mice.
Dietary amino acid regimens designed to enhance catecholaminergic and serotonergic functioning were found to differentially affect territorial-induced attacks in mice. Male albino mice were maintained on a semi-synthetic 12% casein protein diet for 2 weeks, then switched to diets modified by the addition of a 4% L-amino acid supplement, or 4% casein (control). Measures of aggressive behavior and open-field locomotor activity were obtained before and after the dietary supplements were administered. Resident mice fed supplements of L-tyrosine displayed a marked increase in the number of attacks on intruders and shorter attack latencies, but their locomotor activity was unaffected. L-phenylalanine supplements alone or in combination with L-tyrosine reduced the latency to attack and increased motility but did not affect the number of attacks. As a whole, the group of animals fed L-tryptophan showed no changes in aggression or motility.
D000374:Aggression / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D004032:Diet; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010649:Phenylalanine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014364:Tryptophan / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014443:Tyrosine / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014443:Tyrosine; D010649:Phenylalanine; D014364:Tryptophan