Abstract
Background:
Prenatal caffeine adversely affects learning and memory in adult offspring, whereas its administration to adolescent humans improves consolidation of long-term memory. The effects of postnatal caffeine on learning and memory are not known. Our objective was to assess spatial learning and memory in adult mice after caffeine therapy in newborn mice.
Methods:
Mice pups are randomized to receive caffeine (20 mg/kg per day) or saline intraperitoneally for 10 days after birth. Water maze test was performed at 14 weeks of age. Mice had 60 seconds of training for 3 consecutive days to find the platform. A probe trial was performed to assess time to platform quadrant and the number of passes through the target quadrant in the absence of the platform.
Results:
Mice treated with caffeine postnatally located the platform in shorter time for 3 days of training. Time to the platform was significantly shorter in the caffeine group over the training period. Time spent in the target quadrant was not different between the two groups. The frequency of passes through the target zone was significantly higher in the caffeine group, specifically in males.
Conclusions:
No adverse effects on learning and memory were noted in adult mice after postnatal caffeine. Postnatal caffeine may have beneficial effects on spatial learning, and this effect may be sex specific in adult mice.
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