Effect of Caffeine on Prenatal Malformation Skeletal System

Caffeine as a widely used psychoactive compound is an ingredient of most beverage (coffee, tea, and cola), foods (chocolates) and sedative drugs. Many studies revealed teratogenic effect of high doses of caffeine on bone mineralization leading to skeletal deformities. Present study was aimed to investigate the histological alteration caused by consumption of caffeine during neonatal age. In this regard, pregnant NMARI rats at the day 8of pregnancy divided into two groups of experimental (E) and control (C). In experimental group, caffeine (2mg/100gr) was orally administrated from day 8 to day 22 of pregnancy while no treatment was for control group. The newborns were assessed for skeletal growth and mineralization by Alcian blue-Alizarin R/S of the femur bones. In caffeine treated group, there were significant reduction in the weight, total length of femur, length of ossificated part of the bone, amount of calcium, magnesium and phosphor in ossificated part (p≤0.05). Also, outbreaks of hematoma and tailless were observed in offspring's rats of caffeine treated group. In conclusion, maternal caffeine consumption leads to induction of prenatal malformation on skeletal system and also decrease the body weight of infant as universal adverse impact of caffeine on developing whole body systems.