Int J Sports Med 2001; 22(5): 317-322
DOI: 10.1055/s-2001-15645
Physiology and Biochemistry

© Georg Thieme Verlag Stuttgart · New York

Evidence that the Branched-Chain Amino Acid L-Valine Prevents Exercise-Induced Release of 5-HT in Rat Hippocampus

D. Gomez-Merino, F. Béquet, M. Berthelot, S. Riverain, M. Chennaoui, C. Y. Guezennec.
  • Department of Physiology: IMASSA-CERMA, Bretigny Sur Orge, France
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
31 December 2001 (online)

The branched-chain amino acid L-valine competes with tryptophan for transport into the brain and has previously been shown to decrease brain 5-HT synthesis. The purpose of this study was to assess, using a combined venous catheterization and in vivo microdialysis method, the effect of pre-exercise L-valine administration on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) metabolism in the ventral hippocampus of rats submitted to an acute intensive treadmill running (120 min at 25 m × min-1 followed by 150 min of recovery). The presented results include measurement of extracellular tryptophan (TRP), the 5-HT precursor, and extracellular 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA), the 5-HT metabolite. The data clearly demonstrate that exercise induces 5-HT release in the rat hippocampus: in control group, hippocampal 5-HT levels increase from 123.7 ± 6.4 % at the end of exercise to 133.9 ± 6.4 % after 60 min of recovery. Moreover, two hours of intensive running induced significant increases both in extracellular TRP levels (from 120 min of exercise to 30 min of recovery) and 5-HIAA levels (from 90 min of exercise to 90 min of recovery). Pre-exercise administration of L-valine prevents significantly the exercise-induced 5-HT release: 5-HT levels are maintained to baseline during exercise and recovery. With regard to the competitive effect of L-valine with TRP, we could observe a treatment-induced decrease in brain TRP levels (from 120 min of exercise to the end of recovery). Besides, L-valine does not prevent exercise-induced increase in 5-HIAA levels. The present study evidences that an acute intensive exercise stimulates 5-HT metabolism in the rat hippocampus, and that a pre-exercise administration of L-valine prevents, via a limiting effect on 5-HT synthesis, exercise-induced 5-HT release. This study provides some anwers to previous human and animal investigations, showing physiological and psychological benefits of branched-chain amino acids supplementation on performance.

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Danielle Gomez-Merino 

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