Effects of administering caffeine to pregnant rats either as a single daily dose or as divided doses four times a day.

Abstract

From day 6 to day 20 of pregnancy, rats were treated with caffeine in a total daily dose of 10 or 100 mg/kg by gavage, either as a single bolus dose or as four divided doses given at 3-hr intervals throughout the day. Controls were given distilled water at the same times. Maternal body weight and food and water consumption were reduced in the two groups receiving a total of 100 mg caffeine/kg/day and in the group given 2.5 mg/kg four times daily. Dose-related decreases in foetal weight, placental weight and crown-rump length and dose-related retardation of skeletal ossification were observed. Major foetal abnormalities, mainly ectrodactyly, were seen only in the group given 100 mg caffeine/kg in a single daily dose.

• Authors: S E Smith, P R McElhatton, F M Sullivan
• Journal: Food and chemical toxicology : an international journal published for the British Industrial Biological Research Association (Food Chem Toxicol) Vol. 25 Issue 2 Pg. 125-33 (Feb 1987) ISSN: 0278-6915 [Print] England
• PMID: 3557234 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Caffeine

Topics

• Abnormalities, Drug-Induced (etiology)
• Animals
• Body Weight (drug effects)
• Caffeine (blood, toxicity)
• Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
• Female
• Osteogenesis (drug effects)
• Placenta (drug effects)
• Pregnancy
• Rats