Chronic Caffeine Ingestion Improves Motor Function and Increases Dendritic Length and Arborization in the Motor Cortex, Striatum, and Cerebellum
Funmilayo E. Olopade, Journal of Caffeine and Adenosine ResearchVol. 11, No. 1 10 Mar 2021
Introduction: We assessed motor function after chronic caffeine ingestion and examined brain regions controlling them: the sensorimotor cortex, striatum, and cerebellar cortex.
Materials and Methods: Twenty-four adult male albino mice received caffeine 20 mg/kg (low dose), 60 mg/kg (high dose), or water (control) daily by gavage for eight weeks. Motor function was assessed by open field, pole, and inverted square grid tests. The sensorimotor cortex, striatum, and cerebellum were processed for hematoxylin and eosin, Nissl, and Golgi staining.
Results: Reduced body weight gain in the high-dose group, a dose-dependent increase in locomotion, but not muscular strength; increased cerebellar Purkinje cell density, increased apical dendrite length in the pyramidal neurons of the sensorimotor cortex, and increased dendritic arborization in the sensorimotor cortex pyramidal neurons and striatal medium spiny neurons in both low-dose and high-dose groups were observed.
Conclusion: Prolonged caffeine intake improves motor function possibly through promoting the growth of dendrites and an increase in the neuronal population.