Effects of l-theanine on anxiety-like behavior, cerebrospinal fluid amino acid profile, and hippocampal activity in Wistar Kyoto rats

The amino acid l-theanine (N-ethyl-l-glutamine) has historically been considered a relaxing agent. In the present study, we examined the effects of repeated l-theanine administration on behavior, levels of amino acids in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and hippocampal activity in Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats, an animal model of anxiety and depressive disorders. Behavioral tests were performed after 7–10 days of l-theanine (0.4 mg kg−1 day−1) or saline...