[Behavioral-teratological effects of caffeine on mice]

Pregnant ICR mice were exposed to caffeine at levels of 0, 4, 20 and 100 mg/kg during pregnancy. The behavioral-teratological tests indicated that the retardation of development, the obstruction of early reflexes and sensation and decline of learning ability existed in the offsprings of 20 and 100 mg/kg groups. The number of the dead fetus increased in the group of 100 mg/kg coffeine treated mice. No morphological changes were found.