Caffeine Exposure Causes Immune Dysfunction and Intrauterine Growth Restriction Retardation in Rats

This study was conducted to assess the effects of caffeine on the dam and the physical development of rat offspring.Pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats(20 per dose group)were administered caffeine by gavage at 0(control),5,20,and 80 mg/kg body weight(bw)daily from gestational day 6 through lactation using caffeine dissolved in water.The developmental toxicity of caffeine was evaluated.Dams in the 80 mg/kg bw group exhibited splenic atrophy.The litter weights were significantly lower in the 20 and 80 mg/kg bw groups than the untreated control(P<0.05),with a greater reduction in the higher dose group.The number of female offspring was reduced in the 20 and 80 mg/kg bw groups(P<0.05).Some of the offspring were eaten by the dam following birth,which accounted for half of the litters in the 80 mg/kg bw group(P<0.05).Offspring body weight in the 80 mg/kg bw group was lower than that in the control during the lactation period(P<0.05).Exposure to caffeine during pregnancy can cause maternal immune dysfunction and intrauterine growth restriction retardation(IUGR);the developmental toxicity of caffeine varied with gender,as females were more sensitive than males.The no observed adverse effect level was 5 mg/kg bw based on the IUGR.