Caffeine pre- and postnatal exposure and its effects on brain histoarchitecture at puberty in mice

This study investigated the effects of pre- and postnatal caffeine ingestion on the frontal cortex of experimental mice. Thirty-two (n=32) pregnant mice (Mus musculus) were divided into four groups: group A control, received distilled water; group B received caffeine- 10 mg/kg body weight; group C received caffeine- 50 mg/kg body weight; and group D received caffeine- 120 mg/kg body weight. The study was categorised into two phases; Phase I investigated prenatal caffeine exposure with half number of offspring sacrificed at birth. In Phase II, caffeine exposure continued till postnatal Day 35, marking puberty. Following sacrifice, brain specimens were processed using the H&E, Feulgen DNA and GFAP histological and histochemical techniques. Examination of cortical histoarchitecture showed that the caffeine- 120 mg/kg treated group had the most adverse effects with mortality soon after birth. Neuronal morphological heterogeneity was observed at doses higher than 10 mg/kg and these effects persisted till puberty. Astrocyte morphologies and patterns of dendrites were altered relative to the controls at puberty. Caffeine exposure altered the pattern of brain cell development by altering morphologies, patterns of elaboration and spatial distribution. Effects were dose-dependent.

Key Words: Brain, Frontal Cortex, Caffeine, Development, Neurons