Evaluation of the effects of L-Theanine on neurobehavior in an adult male Sprague-Dawley Rat Model of PTSD

Authors

  • John E Buonora US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing, Academy of Health Sciences, AMEDDC&S, 3490 Forage Rd., Ste 112, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-7585, United States of America
  • Patrick M Krum US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing, Academy of Health Sciences, AMEDDC&S, 3490 Forage Rd., Ste 112, Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234-7585, United States of America
  • Tomás Eduardo Ceremuga US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing/Northeastern University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14719/pst.2019.6.3.564

Keywords:

PTSD, Neurobehavior, L-Theanine, Green Tea, Rat

Abstract

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) continues to be one of the most common mental health disorders in the United States and may occur in response to traumatic experiences. Currently, there are no interventions that prevent the development of PTSD. L-Theanine (L-Th), a major compound in green tea has been found to decrease anxiety and prevent memory impairment and may have potential effects in the prevention of PTSD. Sixty rats were divided into six experimental groups: control vehicle, control L-Th, control naïve, PTSD vehicle, PTSD Pre-L-Th (prophylactic), PTSD Post-L-Th (non-prophylactic). PTSD was induced by a 3-day restraint/tail shock stress model. The effects of L-Th on neurobehavior were evaluated by Elevated Plus-Maze (EPM), Morris Water Maze (MWM), and Forced Swim Test (FST). Our study found that the total food intake weight of PTSD Pre-L-Th (prophylactic) rats were significantly increased compared to that of PTSD vehicle rats (p = .04). Administration of L-Th 24 hours before the initial PTSD event or for 10 days following the last PTSD stress event did not statistically improve mean open arm exploration on the EPM, spatial memory, and learning in the MWM or behavioral despair measured by the FST (p > 0.05). Although the 3-day restraint/tail shock stress model caused stress in the rodents, it did not produce reported PTSD-like anxiety and depression or spatial memory loss. The effect of Pre-L-Th or Post-L-Th treatment, on the neurobehavioral functions could not be effectively evaluated. However, this study provides a foundation for future studies to try different rodent PTSD models to induce PTSD-like neurobehavioral impairments to explore dosage, frequency, as well as the duration of L-Th administration before and/or after the post-traumatic event. The 3-day restraint/tail shock stress model caused stress in the rodents, Pre-L-Theanine treatment preconditioned the PTSD rats to endure stress.

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Author Biography

Tomás Eduardo Ceremuga, US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing/Northeastern University

Professor, US Army Graduate Program in Anesthesia Nursing, United States of America

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16-07-2019

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Buonora JE, Krum PM, Ceremuga TE. Evaluation of the effects of L-Theanine on neurobehavior in an adult male Sprague-Dawley Rat Model of PTSD. Plant Sci. Today [Internet]. 2019 Jul. 16 [cited 2024 May 3];6(3):299-308. Available from: https://horizonepublishing.com/journals/index.php/PST/article/view/564

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