The effect of l-theanine administration on testicular ischemia/reperfusion injury in the rat

Ischemia-reperfusion (IR) injury is one of the main pathophysiologic conditions of the testis. Despite free radical scavenging property of the tannins, limit information exists for their antioxidant activity. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of L-theanine administration on testicular I/R injury in the rat.
Thirty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups (n=6/group). In I/R group, rats subjected to 4 h I/20 h R period and i.p. injected with saline 1 hour before the R. In groups 3-5, rats subjected to 4 h I/20 h R period and i.p. injected with L-theanine (100, 200 or 400 mg/kg) 1 hour before the R. At the end of the study, left testis was removed for histological analysis and antioxidant measurement.
According to the results, I/R leads to degenerated seminiferous tubules and loss of spermatogenesis. Administration of the L-theanine (200 and 400 mg/kg) followed by I/R was associated with many normal seminiferous tubules. Tissue malondialdehyde (MDA) levels significantly increased in I/R rats (P<0.05) while L-theanine decreased I/R-induced MDA (P<0.05). Experimental I/R significantly decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity (P<0.05). Administration of the L-theanine significantly increased tissue activity of SOD and GPx in I/R rat (P<0.05).
These findings suggested that treatment with L-theanine has a beneficial effect against I/R