Theanine, r-glutamylethylamide, increases neurotransmission concentrations and neurotrophin mRNA levels in the brain during lactation
Abstract
Theanine (r-glutamylethylamide) is one of the major amino acid components in green tea. Recent studies suggest that theanine affects neurotransmission, especially inhibitory neurotransmission. In this study, we investigated whether theanine affects brain development in infant rats, because inhibitory neurotransmission is required for mature brain function. Mother rats were fed theanine ad libitum after confinement. The body weight gain rate of infants was not different from control infants. We detected theanine in the infant serum and measured neurotransmitter concentration and nerve growth factor (NGF) mRNA level in the infant rat brain. Some neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, glycine and GABA concentration, increased in the infant brain and NGF mRNA level increased in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. However, these differences were lost by the end of nerve maturity. These results suggest that theanine enhanced synthesis of nerve growth factor and neurotransmitters during a nerve maturing period and promoted central nerve system maturation (CNS). Thus, theanine accelerated maturation. In conclusion, theanine may assist in healthy brain function development.
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L-theanine crosses the blood-brain barrier and is measurable from 30 min up to 5 h after ingestion.
“Functionally L-theanine especially crossing the blood brain barrier, is measurable in a range from 30 min and up to 5 h after ingestion [10,11,33]”
From l -theanine: A potential multifaceted natural bioactive amide as health supplement (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
L-theanine promotes maturity of the nervous centralis during the neural maturation period, which is beneficial for brain development.
“L-theanine promotes the maturity of nervous centralis during the neural maturation period, which is beneficial for brain development [11,12]”
From l -theanine: A potential multifaceted natural bioactive amide as health supplement (2017) · cites this paper as [11]
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- Authors
- Yamada, T., Terashima, T., Wada, K., Ueda, S., Ito, M., Okubo, T., Juneja, L. R., & Yokogoshi, H.
- Affiliations
- Shizuoka University (JP)
- Taiyo Kagaku Co., Ltd. (Japan) (JP)
- Corresponding author
- Yokogoshi, Hidehiko
- Venue
- Life Sciences
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2007-09
- Volume
- 81
- Issue
- 16
- Pages
- 1247-1255
- ISSN
- 0024-3205 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2000282840
- Cited by
- 47
- References
- 27
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 3 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 4 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 3 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 0.94
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Life Sciences (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Pathology and Forensic Medicine › Tea Polyphenols and Effects
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Biological Psychiatry › Tryptophan and brain disorders
- Keywords
- theanine, lactation, brain development, inhibitory neurotransmission, nerve growth factor, dopamine, serotonin, glycine, GABA, central nervous system maturation, green tea, infant rats
- MeSH terms
- Amino Acids, Animals, Animals, Newborn, Body Weight, Brain, Female, Glutamates, Lactation, Male, Milk, Nerve Growth Factors, RNA, Messenger, Tea, Rats, Wistar, Neurotransmitter Agents, Rats
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