Psychosocial stress-induced brain atrophy and its suppression via theanine intake
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ABSTRACT: When mice of accelerated senescence prone 10 (SAMP10) were psychosocially stressed using male mouse’s territorial imperative, the mice exhibited higher cerebral atrophy and cognitive dysfunction than same-aged group-housing mice. The brain atrophy was examined using MRI. The volumes of various brain areas were decreased at the time of one month after confrontational housing. However, in SAMP10 mice ingesting theanine, the main amino acid in tea leaves, brain atrophy was suppressed even under confrontational housing. To investigate the function of theanine, the early response against stress was examined at the third day of confrontational housing. The level of transcription factor Npas4 that plays a role in the development of inhibitory synapses for regulating the balance between excitation and suppression was significantly increased by theanine intake. Actually, the levels of glutamate and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters, were balanced in the mice ingested theanine under confrontational housing. These data suggest that theanine suppresses stress-induced damage in the brain via increased expression of Npas4 and regulation of excitement/suppression balance. In addition, SAMP10 is a useful model of stress vulnerability.
ORGANISM(S): Mus musculus
PROVIDER: GSE120546 | GEO | 2018/09/28
REPOSITORIES: GEO
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