L-theanine administration results in neuroprotection and prevents glutamate receptor agonist-mediated injury in the rat model of cerebral ischemia-reperfusion.
While the neuroprotective effect of green tea (Camellia sinensis) might be explained by the presence of amino acid L-theanine in the tea leaves, it is not known whether postischemic administration of L-theanine could also provide neuroprotection. In the present study, we investigated the neuroprotective effect of L-theanine (1 and 4 mg/kg) administered at 3, 12, and 24 h after reperfusion in the rat model of stroke. We also studied the effect of L-theanine on brain injury caused by exogenous administration of N-methyl-D-aspartate and α-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-isoxazole-4-propionate/kainate receptor agonists during reperfusion. Rats were subjected to 30-min middle cerebral artery occlusion followed by 48-h reperfusion. Neurological deficit and infarct size were determined at the end of reperfusion. At 3 and 12 h, but not at 24 h of reperfusion, L-theanine substantially reduced the size of brain infarct. Neurological status was improved when L-theanine was administered 3, 12, and 24 h after reperfusion. Repeated intrastriatal injections of L-theanine at a total dose of 800 µg/kg during reperfusion prevented brain injury caused by glutamate receptor agonists. In conclusion, L-theanine at reperfusion exerts neuroprotective effect in the in vivo rat model of stroke. Local treatment with L-theanine at reperfusion prevents glutamate receptor agonist-mediated brain injury.
['Zukhurova|Mavdzhuda|M|', 'Prosvirnina|Maria|M|', 'Daineko|Anastasia|A|', 'Simanenkova|Anna|A|', 'Petrishchev|Nikolay|N|', 'Sonin|Dmitry|D|', 'Galagudza|Michael|M|', 'Shamtsyan|Mark|M|', 'Juneja|Lekh R|LR|', 'Vlasov|Timur|T|']
D000818:Animals D001921:Brain D028241:Camellia sinensis D018690:Excitatory Amino Acid Agonists D005971:Glutamates D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery D008297:Male D016202:N-Methylaspartate D018696:Neuroprotective Agents D051381:Rats D017208:Rats, Wistar D017470:Receptors, Glutamate D015427:Reperfusion Injury D013662:Tea
L-theanine neuroprotection rat reperfusion brain ischemia