(-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate protects against neuronal cell death and improves cerebralfunction after traumatic brain injury in aged rats

2017 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 15K00898
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Eating habits
• Research Institution: Kindai University
• Principal Investigator: SATOU Takao 近畿大学, 医学部附属病院, 教授 (70162443)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 井上 敬夫 近畿大学, 医学部, 助教 (00441006) ; 伊藤 龍生 近畿大学, 農学部, 教授 (40330245)
• Project Period (FY): 2015-04-01 – 2018-03-31
• Keywords: 緑茶 / 高齢者 / 脳外傷 / 神経保護 / 酸化ストレス / EGCG

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A major component of green tea, a widely consumed beverage, is EGCG, which has strong antioxidant properties. In this study, we investigated the effects of EGCG on cerebral function and morphology following TBI. 24-month-old rats male Wistar rats that had access to normal drinking water, or water containing 0.1% (w/v) EGCG ad libitum, received TBI with a pneumatic controlled injury device for 4weeks. Immunohistochemistry and lipid peroxidation studies revealed that at 1, 3 and 7 days post-TBI, the number of 8-OHdG-, 4-HNE- and ssDNA-positive cells, and the levels of MDA around the damaged area after TBI, significantly decreased in the EGCG treatment group compared with the water group. In addition, there was a significant increase in the number of surviving neuronal cells and an improvement in cerebral dysfunction after TBI in the EGCG treatment group compared with the water group. In summary, consumption of green tea may be an effective therapy for TBIaged patients.

Free Research Field

神経病理学