Interaction between Caffeine Intake and Nutritional Status on Growing Brains in Newborn Rats

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether caffeine’s effects on the growing brain in suckling pups are modified by the nutritional status of the dams. Upon delivery, 8 randomly selected pups were assigned to each dam. They were divided into four groups; group 1 was fed a 20% protein diet as a control; group 2 was fed a 6% protein diet as a malnourished group; group 3 was pair-fed to group 1, but the 20% protein diet was supplemented with caffeine (2mg/l00g body weight of dams), and group 4 was pair-fed to group 2 with a 6% protein diet with caffeine. At day 15, pups were killed. Brains were removed, weighed and homogenized. Caffeine content of plasma, brain of the pups and maternal milk in groups 3 and 4 were determined. Brains were analyzed for zinc, alkaline phosphatase activity, DNA, protein, and cholesterol. Body weight and protein content of group 3 were greater than group 1 but the zinc contents and alkaline phosphatase activity of group 3 were less than group 1. DNA and cholesterol contents of group 4 were greater than group 2. Supplementation of caffeine to the maternal diet appeared to have various effects on the growing brains of the suckling pups. Caffeine’s effects and nutritional status are closely interrelated.

Interaction between Caffeine and Zinc on Brain in Newborn Rats

“…Myelination in rats usually occurs af ter 15 days of age. Cholesterol deposited up to 15 days is largely membranous [3]. Caf feine in high doses has been shown to tran siently decrease myelin synthesis in neonates [32], The cholesterol contents in the present study showed no difference between the groups, suggesting that caffeine intake does not inhibit membrane-related cholesterol synthesis.…”

“…DNA content in the caffeine-supple mented group during gestation and lactation periods showed no difference from the con trol group. The DNA content of the fetal cer ebrum when dams are given caffeine through drinking water during gestation [31] and that of the developing brain of the suckling pups whose dams are given a caffeine-supple mented diet [3] also showed no difference from the control. In contrast, the DNA con tent in the caffeine plus zinc group was higher than that of the control group.…”

“…Because zinc is essential for proper brain development and function [21], it is conceivable that our recent findings [3,6] on the interaction be tween the maternal caffeine intake and the brain zinc levels of their offspring could be critical. Various levels of dietary maternal caffeine supplementation seem to exert dif ferent effects on the brain zinc levels in fetuses [6] and newborn rats [22].…”

“…The gas chromatograph was equipped with 3% SE30. 120/140 gas Chrom Q col The caffeine concentrations in milk, plasma and brain samples were measured as described [3],…”

“…A large dose of caffeine has been known to cause various abnormali ties in developing fetuses of animals when given during gestation [2], Caffeine is also secreted through the maternal milk and af fects the suckling offspring [3]. The half-life of caffeine in pregnant rats and newborns is much longer than in adults [4,5], Our recent studies consistently indicate that caffeine exposure to pregnant dams or lactating dams causes a decrease in the brain tissue zinc levels of their offspring [3,6], Because zinc is associated with growth and development [7] and is an important compo nent of proper brain development [8], it is possible that this decrease in brain zinc lev els may adversely affect brain development as a result of maternal caffeine ingestion in the early growing period of the offspring. Thus, the object of the present study was to determine how supplementation with zinc of a maternal caffeine-supplemented diet dur ing gestation and lactation can influence the developing brain of newborn rats.…”