(-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate increases the number of neural stem cells around the damaged area after rat traumatic brain injury

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24501009
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Eating habits, studies on eating habits
• Research Institution: Kinki University
• Principal Investigator: SATOU Takao 近畿大学, 医学部附属病院, 教授 (70162443)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): ITOH Tatsuki 近畿大学, 農学部, 教授 (40330245) ; INOUE Takao 近畿大学, 医学部, 助教 (00441006)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 脳外傷 / 神経再生 / カテキン / 緑茶飲料 / 神経幹細胞

Outline of Final Research Achievements

A major component of green tea is (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has strong antioxidant properties. we investigated the effect of EGCG on neural stem cell (NSC) proliferation following traumatic brain injury (TBI). Male Wistar rats that had access to normal drinking water, or water containing 0.1% (w/v) EGCG, ad libitum. Immunohistochemistry revealed that the number of nestin-positive cells after TBI in the EGCG group increased significantly. The number of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA)-positive cells after TBI significantly decreased in the EGCG group. Almost all ssDNA-positive cells in the water group co-localized with NeuN and nestin-staining. Spheres could only be isolated in the water group at 3 days.In the EGCG group, spheres could be isolated at all days following TBI. Spheres differentiated into neurons and glia. These results indicate that EGCG inhibits degradation of NSCs, which have the potential to differentiate into neurons and glia following TBI.

Free Research Field

神経病理学