Brain-Choroid Plexus Chemistry Changes Linkable to Caffeine Ingestion and Accompanying Short-Term Memory Disturbances in Experimental Models

摘要

A number of literatures have reported that caffeine could have negative effects on mental health and brain structures and chemistry. There are also reported positive effects of caffeine, such as improvement in memory, especially for those who consume caffeine from its natural sources. Sixty male juvenile Wistar rats were grouped into six (6) groups of 10 rats in each. The groups were labeled A-F with group A being the control group and groups B, C, D, E, and F being the treated groups. This investigation complements our previous efforts to study the effects of caffeine on the choroid plexus microscopic structure, which is involved in the production of the cerebrospinal fluids. Caffeine alters the activities of key enzymes that are associated with the production of CSF. This showed that the structural changes have observable alterations of the brain chemistry. Also, memory, a major attribute of mental power was tested in the same models; results showed that caffeine affected the short term memories. The effects of caffeine was studied in models that ingested caffeine solely and in other modeled after human use by consuming it with honey, a natural antioxidant rich sweetener. In this study, it was observed that the long-term consumption and high amount of caffeine increased the expression of carbonic anhydrase enzyme in the choroid plexus, this enzyme plays a major role in the production of CSF. In the caffeine-treated rats, there was also increased expression of Na+/K+-ATPase which may be associated with changes in the choroid epithelial cells. Honey improved the glutathione peroxidase level. Results showed the use of caffeine with honey had positive effects against the observed effects caused by ingestion of caffeine only. This also showed that caffeine use effects would vary in users of pure caffeine as mere drugs; and habitual consumers as beverages. Generally, evidences lead us to conclude that alterations in enzymes activities are associated with choroid plexus changes that could affect CSF production. These effects are also associated with behavioural changes.