Brain-to-blood active transport of β-alanine across the blood–brain barrier

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A high-affinity antiluminal uptake system for β-alanine was demonstrated in primary cultured bovine brain capillary endothelial cells (BCEC) for which K t is 66.9 μM. β-alanine uptake was energy-, sodium- and chloride ion-dependent. β-amino acids strongly inhibited the uptake, while α- and γ-amino acids had a little or no inhibitory effect. In ATP-depleted cells, the uptake was stimulated by preloading β-alanine or taurine but not by l-leucine. These results suggest that β-alanine is actively transported across the antiluminal membrane of BCECs that is common to β-amino acids. The system may function for the efflux from the brain to blood.