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Prenatal caffeine intake differently affects synaptic proteins during fetal brain development.

Sabrina Mioranzza1, Fernanda Nunes1, Daniela M Marques1

  • 1Laboratório de Estudos sobre o Sistema Purinérgico, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Biológicas/Bioquímica, Porto Alegre, RS 90035-003, Brazil.

International Journal of Developmental Neuroscience : the Official Journal of the International Society for Developmental Neuroscience
|May 28, 2014
PubMed
Summary

Prenatal caffeine exposure can alter fetal brain development by affecting synaptic proteins and potentially accelerating brain maturation. Even moderate doses may impact developing brains.

Keywords:
BDNFBrain developmentCaffeineShhSynaptic proteins

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Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Developmental Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Caffeine is the world's most consumed psychostimulant.
  • Limited understanding exists regarding caffeine's impact on fetal brain development.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the effects of prenatal caffeine exposure on synaptic protein expression and neuronal development in the fetal rat brain.
  • To determine dose-dependent effects of caffeine on specific brain regions (cortex and hippocampus) during critical developmental stages.

Main Methods:

  • Adult female Wistar rats were administered caffeine (0.1, 0.3, 1.0 g/L) before and during pregnancy.
  • Cerebral cortex and hippocampus from embryonic stages E18 and E20 were analyzed for synaptic proteins (BDNF, TrkB, Shh, GAP-43, SNAP-25) via immunodetection.
  • NeuN-stained nuclei (mature neurons) and non-neuronal nuclei were quantified.

Main Results:

  • High-dose caffeine (1.0 g/L) reduced embryonic body weight at E20.
  • Caffeine altered cortical BDNF levels (decrease at E18, increase at E20) and hippocampal TrkB receptor expression (decrease at E18).
  • Increased Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) was observed in both brain regions at E18 and hippocampus at E20 with moderate/high doses. Moderate caffeine dose increased mature neurons in the hippocampus at E18 and low dose in the cortex at E20.

Conclusions:

  • Prenatal caffeine exposure causes transient alterations in synaptic protein expression during fetal brain development.
  • Increased mature neuron counts suggest a potential acceleration of telencephalon maturation.
  • Even lower doses of caffeine may influence fetal brain development, warranting further investigation.