title: Facilitated neurogenesis in the developing hippocampus after intake of theanine, an amino acid in tea leaves, and object recognition memory.
abstract: Theanine, γ-glutamylethylamide, is one of the major amino acid components in green tea. In this study, cognitive function and the related mechanism were examined in theanine-administered young rats. Newborn rats were fed theanine through dams, which were fed water containing 0.3% theanine, and then fed water containing 0.3% theanine after weaning. Theanine level in the brain was under the detectable limit 6 weeks after the start of theanine administration. Theanine administration did not influence locomotor activity in the open-field test. However, rearing behavior was significantly increased in theanine-administered rats, suggesting that exploratory activity is increased by theanine intake. Furthermore, object recognition memory was enhanced in theanine-administered rats. The increase in exploratory activity in the open-field test seems to be associated with the enhanced object recognition memory after theanine administration. On the other hand, long-term potentiation (LTP) induction at the perforant path-granule cell synapse was not changed by theanine administration. To check hippocampal neurogenesis, BrdU was injected into rats 3 weeks after the start of theanine administration, and brain-derived neurotropic factor (BDNF) level was significantly increased at this time. Theanine intake significantly increased the number of BrdU-, Ki67-, and DCX-labeled cells in the granule cell layer 6 weeks after the start of theanine administration. This study indicates that 0.3% theanine administration facilitates neurogenesis in the developing hippocampus followed by enhanced recognition memory. Theanine intake may be of benefit to the postnatal development of hippocampal function.
authors: Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Shizuoka, Global COE, Shizuoka, Japan. takedaa@u-shizuoka-ken.ac.jp
authors: Atsushi
authors: A
authors: Takeda
authors: Kazuhiro
authors: K
authors: Sakamoto
authors: Haruna
authors: H
authors: Tamano
authors: Kotaro
authors: K
authors: Fukura
authors: Naoto
authors: N
authors: Inui
authors: Sang Won
authors: SW
authors: Suh
authors: Seok-Joon
authors: SJ
authors: Won
authors: Hidehiko
authors: H
authors: Yokogoshi
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