title: Neuroprotective effect of gamma-glutamylethylamide (theanine) on cerebral infarction in mice.
abstract: In the present study, we examined the neuroprotective effect of gamma-glutamylethylamide (theanine) on the ischemic brain damage in a middle cerebral artery occlusion model in mice. Theanine was injected i.p. 3 h after the occlusion or immediately before and 3 h after the occlusion. Theanine (1 mg/kg) significantly decreased the size of the cerebral infarcts 1 day after the occlusion. In contrast, theanine did not affect the cerebral blood flow, brain temperature and physiological variables (pH, pCO(2), pO(2) and hematocrit) in this model. These results suggest that theanine directly provides neuroprotection against focal cerebral ischemia and may be clinically useful for preventing cerebral infarction.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neuropharmacology, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Fukuoka University, 8-19-1, Nanakuma, Jonan-ku, Fukuoka 814-0180, Japan.
authors.forename: Nobuaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Egashira
authors.forename: Kazuhide
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hayakawa
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mishima
authors.forename: Hitomi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.forename: Katsunori
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Iwasaki
authors.forename: Michihiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fujiwara
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005971:Glutamates / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D020244:Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D018696:Neuroprotective Agents; D013778:Tetrazolium Salts; C009591:triphenyltetrazolium; C026166:theanine