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language
eng
Author
Sugimoto, Naotoshi
Katakura, Masanori
Yachie , Akihiro
Description
Theobromine is a caffeine derivative and the primary methylxanthine in Theobroma cacao. We have shown previously that theobromine inhibits the Akt‐mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signal in vitro. In this study, we investigated whether orally administered theobromine could inhibit mTOR activity in rats. mTOR is phosphorylated by Akt. Thus, the level of phosphorylated mTOR was used as an index of mTOR activity. Male Wistar rats were divided into two groups. The control group (CN) was fed a normal diet, while the theobromine group (TB) was fed a diet supplemented with 0.05% theobromine for 40 days. We measured body‐weights and tissue weights, food and water intake, blood count, concentrations of theobromine in the plasma, liver and brain, and the levels of phosphorylated mTOR in the liver and brain. Orally administered theobromine did not affect the body‐weights and tissue weights, food and water intake, and blood count as determined by comparison with levels in rats that were fed standard chow. Theobromine was detected in the plasma, liver and brain obtained from TB rats, but was not detected in tissues obtained from CN rats. The phosphorylated mTOR levels in the liver and brain were significantly lower in TB rats than in CN rats. The results suggest that oral theobromine inhibits mTOR signalling in vivo.
Journal Title
Basic & clinical pharmacology & toxicology
Volume
124
Issue
5
Start Page
575
End Page
581
ISSN(Online)
1742-7843
Published Date
2018-11-19
DOI
Publisher
John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
NII Type
Journal Article
Format
PDF
Text Version
著者版
Gyoseki ID
e36022
e38771
OAI-PMH Set
Faculty of Medicine