Caffeine teratogenicity in rats: morphological characterization and hypothesized mechanisms

Autores

  • Ana Claudia Souza Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul
  • Jairo Alberto Dussán-Sarria Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre
  • Andressa Souza Centro Universitário Unilasalle
  • Wolnei Caumo Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre
  • Iraci Lucena da Silva Torres Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Palavras-chave:

Caffeine, offspring, teratogenicity, pregnancy, hydrops, cardiovascular alterations

Resumo

Caffeine consumption during pregnancy has been shown in the scientific literature to be associated with teratogenicity such as low birth weight, fetal malformations, and miscarriage. However, the morphological alterations of the offspring of dams exposed during pregnancy have not been consistently described, and the mechanisms why they occur remain elusive. Thus, we aimed to characterize the offspring malformations induced by moderate and high doses of caffeine during pregnancy. Dams were divided into three groups: control, moderate (0.3 g/L), and high dose (1.0 g/L) of caffeine, which was provided in the drinking water beginning on gestational day 1 and continuing throughout the entire gestation. At moderate doses, only one of the dams had stillborn pups, although no macroscopic malformations were observed. High doses of caffeine induced significantly more malformations (P<0.001) and early death (before P4). The malformations observed were related to fetal development and cardiovascular alterations, namely bruises, macrocephaly with short limbs, abnormal development (or absence) of head structures and limbs, labial malformations, hydrops fetalis, and poor placental formation. We discussed the proposed mechanisms by which caffeine might induce these phenotypes, which may involve down-regulation of adenosine A1 receptors, and increased mothers’ catecholamines. Our findings further confirm the evidence of the teratogenic effects of high doses of caffeine administered during pregnancy. These findings support the recommendation to avoid caffeine exposure during pregnancy.

 

Keywords: Caffeine; offspring; teratogenicity; pregnancy; hydrops; cardiovascular alterations

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Biografia do Autor

Ana Claudia Souza, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Departamento de Farmacologia do Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Wolnei Caumo, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre

Departamento de Cirurgia da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Iraci Lucena da Silva Torres, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

Departamento de Farmacologia do Instituto de Ciências Básicas da Saúde da Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul

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Publicado

2017-01-17

Como Citar

1.
Souza AC, Dussán-Sarria JA, Souza A, Caumo W, Torres IL da S. Caffeine teratogenicity in rats: morphological characterization and hypothesized mechanisms. Clin Biomed Res [Internet]. 17º de janeiro de 2017 [citado 28º de março de 2024];36(4). Disponível em: https://seer.ufrgs.br/index.php/hcpa/article/view/68287

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