Protective effect of l-theanine on chronic restraint stress-induced cognitive impairments in mice.

Abstract

The present work was aimed to study the protective effect of l-theanine on chronic restraint stress (CRS)-induced cognitive impairments in mice. The stress was produced by restraining the animals in well-ventilated polypropylene tubes (3.2 cm in diameter ×10.5 cm in length) for 8h once daily for 21 consecutive days. L-theanine (2 and 4 mg/kg) was administered 30 min before the animals subjected to acute immobilized stress. At week 4, mice were subjected to Morris water maze and step-through tests to measure the cognitive function followed by oxidative parameters and corticosterone as well as catecholamines (norepinephrine and dopamine) subsequently. Our results showed that the cognitive performances in CRS group were markedly deteriorated, accompanied by noticeable alterations in oxidative parameters and catecholamine levels in the hippocampus and the cerebral cortex as well as corticosterone and catecholamine levels in the serum. However, not only did l-theanine treatment exhibit a reversal of the cognitive impairments and oxidative damage induced by CRS, but also reversed the abnormal level of corticosterone in the serum as well as the abnormal levels of catecholamines in the brain and the serum. This study indicated the protective effect of l-theanine against CRS-induced cognitive impairments in mice.

• Authors: Xia Tian, Lingyan Sun, Lingshan Gou, Xin Ling, Yan Feng, Ling Wang, Xiaoxing Yin, Yi Liu
• Journal: Brain research (Brain Res) Vol. 1503 Pg. 24-32 (Mar 29 2013) ISSN: 1872-6240 [Electronic] Netherlands
• PMID: 23395732 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Glutamates
• theanine
• Catalase
• Superoxide Dismutase
• Glutathione
• Dopamine
• Corticosterone
• Norepinephrine

Topics

• Analysis of Variance
• Animals
• Catalase (metabolism)
• Cognition Disorders (drug therapy, etiology)
• Corticosterone (metabolism)
• Disease Models, Animal
• Dopamine (metabolism)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Glutamates (therapeutic use)
• Glutathione (metabolism)
• Lipid Peroxidation (drug effects)
• Maze Learning (drug effects)
• Mice
• Norepinephrine (metabolism)
• Oxidative Stress (drug effects)
• Psychomotor Performance (drug effects)
• Restraint, Physical (adverse effects)
• Stress, Psychological (complications, etiology)
• Superoxide Dismutase (metabolism)
• Time Factors