Modulatory Effects of L- Tyrosine on Neurobehavioural Consequences of Combat Stress in Rats

  • Anjana G Vij Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Science, Delhi
  • Narinder K. Satija Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Science, Delhi
Keywords: Post stress performance, Monoamine oxidase, Saline injected rats, Morris water maze, Catecholaminergic neurotransmitters

Abstract

The paper presents the results of a study conducted to elucidate tile potentiality of tyrosine, aprecursor of catecholaminergic neurotransmitters, against combat stress-associated behavioural changes and brain catecholamine status in an animal model. The results obtained showed that stressimpaired the performance on Morris water maze (MWM) in saline-injected rats and concurrentlylowered norepinephrine (NE) levels in brain. This could be due to decreased dopamine J3-hydroxylase(DBH) activity and increased monoamine oxidase (MAO) activity. On the contrary, there was asignificant improvement in post-stress performance in MWM test in animals receiving tyrosine.Stress-induced increase in catecholamine metabolites, homovanillic acid and vanillylmandelic acid inbrain was prevented by treatment with tyrosine. The present fmdings imply that precursor availabilitycould be a limiting factor to sustain intensified catecholamine synthesis during stress and hencesupplementation of L-tyrosine could be beneficial to improve performance during stress

Author Biographies

Anjana G Vij, Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Science, Delhi
Dr Anjana G Vij did her MSc in Zoology from University of Poona, Pune, in 1972 She obtainedher MPhil from Meerut University in 1974. She joined DRDO in 1975 and is currently working as Scientist at the Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Sciences (DIPAS), Delhi.
Narinder K. Satija, Defence Institute of Physiology & Allied Science, Delhi
Dr Narinder K Satija did his MSc in Chemistry from University of Delhi in 1972 and MPhil in1981. Rejoined DRDO in 1976 and has since been working as Scientist at DIPAS, Delhi.

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Published
2013-01-01
How to Cite
Vij, A., & Satija, N. (2013). Modulatory Effects of L- Tyrosine on Neurobehavioural Consequences of Combat Stress in Rats. Defence Science Journal, 48(2), 149-154. https://doi.org/10.14429/dsj.48.3893
Section
Biomedical Sciences