The influence of nutritional supplementation with epigallocatechin gallate and β‐alanine in combination with physical exercise on adult hippocampal neurogenesis and contextual fear conditioning in young adult BALB/cJ mice (629.4)

Abstract

The influence of nutritional supplementation with Epigallacetechin gallate and β‐alanine in combination with physical exercise on adult hippocampal neurogenesis and contextual fear conditioning in young adult BALB/cJ mice.Nutritional supplementation and physical exercise can enhance cognitive function but the specific combinations of nutrients that maximize pro‐cognitive effects are not known nor are the contributing neurobiological mechanisms. Epigallacetechin gallate (EGCG) is a flavonoid constituent of green tea which has anti‐inflammatory and anti‐oxidant properties and is known to cross the the blood brain barrier and affect brain structure and function. β ‐alanine (B‐ALA) is a naturally occurring amino acid and could increase cognitive functioning by improving the exercise capacity of skeletal muscle. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of EGCG, B‐ALA, and their combination with physical exercise on adult hippocampal neurogenesis and performance on the contextual fear conditioning task in a mouse model. Young adult male BALB/cJ mice approximately 2 months old were divided into 8 groups varying the nutritional supplement in their diet and access to running wheels over a 30 day study period. Results indicated that exercise enhanced contextual fear conditioning; however the diets had no positive effect on performance. Additionally, running enhanced neurogenesis in the hippocampus, as well as BDNF and NOS2 gene expression. Dietary β‐alanine increased VEGF gene expression in the hippocampus, while the combination of β‐alanine and EGCG reduced CX3CL1 gene expression, which was recovered from exercise. EGCG combined with exercise enhanced NOS2 gene expression. These results suggest more work should be done to determine whether increased adult hippocampal neurogenesis from exercise directly contributed to the improved performance on the contextual fear conditioning task in the young BALB/cJ mice.