Abstract
We investigated the involvement of gamma-aminobutyric acid(A) (GABA(A)) receptors in the neuroprotective effect of gamma-glutamylethylamide (theanine), a component of Japanese green tea, following a 4-h middle cerebral artery (MCA) occlusion in mice. Theanine (1 mg/kg) reduced the size of the cerebral infarct and alterations of NeuN, GFAP, and Iba 1 expression levels at 24 h after MCA occlusion. This neuroprotective effect of theanine was prevented by bicuculline (GABA(A)-receptor antagonist, 10 mg/kg) but not 3-mercaptopropionic acid (glutamate decarboxylase inhibitor). These results suggest that the neuroprotective effect of theanine is mediated, at least in part, by GABA(A) receptors.
MeSH terms
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Animals
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Brain Ischemia / drug therapy*
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Calcium-Binding Proteins / drug effects
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Calcium-Binding Proteins / metabolism
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Camellia sinensis / chemistry
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Disease Models, Animal
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Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / drug effects
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / metabolism
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Glutamates / pharmacology*
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Infarction, Middle Cerebral Artery
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Male
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Mice
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Microfilament Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / drug effects
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Nerve Tissue Proteins / metabolism
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Neuroprotective Agents / pharmacology*
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Nuclear Proteins / drug effects
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Nuclear Proteins / metabolism
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Receptors, GABA-A / drug effects*
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Receptors, GABA-A / metabolism
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Tea / chemistry
Substances
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Aif1 protein, mouse
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Calcium-Binding Proteins
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DNA-Binding Proteins
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Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein
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Glutamates
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Microfilament Proteins
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Nerve Tissue Proteins
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NeuN protein, mouse
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Neuroprotective Agents
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Nuclear Proteins
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Receptors, GABA-A
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Tea
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theanine