Effects of Chronic Caffeine Ingestion on Neurological Functions in Wistar Rats

Abstract

The study was designed to investigate the effects of caffeine on short term memory, locomotion activity and exploratory behaviour in rats. The rats underwent some memory tasks such as navigational maze test, passive avoidance test, object recognition test and motor task such as Acoustic reflex (movement) test. Twenty-five Wistar rats were grouped into five groups which comprises of the control groups, group 2(0.2ml caffeine), group 3(0.4ml caffeine), group 4(0.6ml caffeine), group 5(epinephrine drug) with five rats per group. Administration continued for three weeks along with the neurobehavioral tasks which include: navigational maze, passive avoidance test, object recognition test and motor task which include; acoustic reflex (movement) test. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA, while Post Hoc multiple comparison test was used in the comparison of the effects of the control group with Epinephrine treatment groups. Results obtained were statistically analyzed and showed that caffeine could adversely interfere with physiological activities significantly. Furthermore, it also showed that the ability of chronic caffeine ingestion is largely dose-dependent and that caffeine in the facilitation of short-term memory, exploratory behaviour and locomotion is dependent on the dosage.