Effects of Caffeine on Blood Flow in the Pregnant Rat and Associated Development of the Embryo/Fetus; Analytical Methods Development for Caffeine in Biological Media

摘要

Using a radioactive microsphere technique, blood flow to several maternal organs, including ovary, uterus, decidua and chorioallantoic placenta (CAP), was measured following a single dose of 0, 120 or 160 mg/kg caffeine by gavage to pregnant CD rats on day 12 of gestation. At 1 and 4 hrs after treatment, animals were anesthetized and Sr-85-labeled microspheres (25u diam.) were infused via the right carotid artery. Whole body and tissue radioactivity were determined. Maternal cardiac output (CO) and absolute flow (F1; ml/min), relative flow (f2; ml/min/g tissue) and flow as %CO (f3) to each tissue were calculated. Maternal CO was not altered. Ovarian f1 was reduced at 4 hrs and f2 and f3 were reduced at 1 and 4 hrs after caffeine treatment. Uterine f1, f2, and f3 were reduced at both times. Decidual weight was reduced at 1 hr, f2 was reduced at 4 hrs, and f1 and f3 were reduced at both times. However, CAP weight and blood flow were not altered by caffeine treatment. Examination of embryos from these litters and from other animals at 24 hrs after treatment and fetuses at term did not reveal any effect of this dose of caffeine on viability, growth, or physical development. Thus, a single dose of caffeine significantly reduced blood flow to the ovary, total uterus and decidua. In spite of this effect, conceptual development was normal.