Behavioral and inflammatory response in animals exposed to a low-pressure blast wave and supplemented with β-alanine.
This study investigated the benefit of β-alanine (BA) supplementation on behavioral and cognitive responses relating to mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in rats exposed to a low-pressure blast wave. Animals were fed a normal diet with or without (PL) BA supplementation (100 mg kg-1) for 30-day, prior to being exposed to a low-pressure blast wave. A third group of animals served as a control (CTL). These animals were fed a normal diet, but were not exposed to the blast. Validated cognitive-behavioral paradigms were used to assess both mTBI and PTSD-like behavior on days 7-14 following the blast. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), neuropeptide Y, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and tau protein expressions were analyzed a day later. In addition, brain carnosine and histidine content was assessed as well. The prevalence of animals exhibiting mTBI-like behavior was significantly lower (p = 0.044) in BA than PL (26.5 and 46%, respectively), but no difference (p = 0.930) was noted in PTSD-like behavior between the groups (10.2 and 12.0%, respectively). Carnosine content in the cerebral cortex was higher (p = 0.048) for BA compared to PL, while a trend towards a difference was seen in the hippocampus (p = 0.058) and amygdala (p = 0.061). BDNF expression in the CA1 subregion of PL was lower than BA (p = 0.009) and CTL (p < 0.001), while GFAP expression in CA1 (p = 0.003) and CA3 (p = 0.040) subregions were higher in PL than other groups. Results indicated that BA supplementation for 30-day increased resiliency to mTBI in animals exposed to a low-pressure blast wave.
Institute of Exercise Physiology and Wellness, Sport and Exercise Science, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA. jay.hoffman@ucf.edu.
Jay R
JR
Hoffman
Division of Psychiatry, Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Amitai
A
Zuckerman
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Omri
O
Ram
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Ben-Gurion University, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Oren
O
Sadot
Institute of Exercise Physiology and Wellness, Sport and Exercise Science, Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, 32816, USA.
Jeffrey R
JR
Stout
Israel Defense Forces, Medical Corps, Tel Aviv, Israel.
Ishay
I
Ostfeld
Division of Psychiatry, Anxiety and Stress Research Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, Beer-Sheva Mental Health Center, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel.
Hagit
H
Cohen
D000818:Animals; D001753:Blast Injuries / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D002336:Carnosine / Q000378:metabolism; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D015870:Gene Expression; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D006639:Histidine / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015091:beta-Alanine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016875:tau Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism
D019208:Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor; C000614142:Gfap protein, rat; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; C489131:Mapt protein, rat; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D016875:tau Proteins; D015091:beta-Alanine; D006639:Histidine; D002336:Carnosine
BDNF; Carnosine; GFAP; Mild traumatic brain injury; Supplementation