title: [Theanine affects sedative effect of pentobarbital sodium in ICR mice].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects of theanine on sedative effects induced by pentobarbital sodium.
  
  
  METHODS
  The locomotor activities of ICR mice induced by theanine (0.25, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0 g x kg(-1)), pentobarbital sodium (5, 10 mg x kg(-1)) or the combination of both were determined with video-tracking system, and a novel index: Peripheral active time Peripheral time (PATP) was established. Hypnosis effect of combination of both was tested with right-reflex disappearance.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Compared with normal saline (74.52 +/- 20.4)%, theanine alone decreased this PATP in dose-dependent manner from (62.03 +/- 21.11)%, (56.44 +/- 21.69)%, (31.13 +/- 17.2)%, (25.06 +/- 10.03)% to (17.21 +/- 7.43)% (P>0.05, P<0.05, P<0.01, P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). Compared with pentobarbital sodium (5 mg x kg(-1)), between 0.25 g x kg(-1) and 1.0 g x kg(-1) theanine combined with that decreased peripheral PATP from (28.30 +/- 17.57)%, (30.64 +/- 17.21)% to (24.28 +/- 9.59)% (all P<0.01), and increased by 2.0 g x kg(-1) reversely (61.95 +/- 19.39)%. Compared with normal saline, pentobarbital sodium (10 mg x kg(-1)) and the combination with theanine decreased significantly PATP (all P<0.01). Compared with pentobarbital sodium (10 mg x kg(-1)), 0.25 g x kg(-1) theanine combined with that increased PATP [(25.37 +/- 13.68)% vs (10.08 +/- 7.98)%, P<0.01)] and 0.5 g x kg(-1), 1.0 g x kg(-1) theanine could depresse that increase [(14.56 +/-10.10)%, (8.24 +/- 4.08)% vs (10.08 +/- 7.98)%]. Total distance and peripheral active time showed the same or similar tendency in theanine alone or combination with pentobarbital sodium . Theanine enchanced hypnosis effect of pentobarbital sodium in dose-dependent manner.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Theanine can affect the sedative effect of low dose pentobarbital sodium in bidirectional action style but not change the hypnosis effect.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Wenzhou Medical College, Wenzhou, 325035, China.
authors.forename: Xichong
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Bola
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Xiangyan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Tongjun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Zhu
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004347:Drug Interactions; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D008813:Mice, Inbred ICR; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D010424:Pentobarbital / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D005971:Glutamates; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; C026166:theanine; D010424:Pentobarbital