Rat pituitary adenoma and hyperplasia induced by caffeine administration.
The effect of caffeine by oral administration on female Wistar rats was studied for 12 months. High concentrations (2000 micrograms/mL) of caffeine caused a decrease in body weight and an increase in the weight of the pituitary gland in these rats. Increased pituitary weight was caused by the growth of a pituitary adenoma or hyperplasia. Pituitary adenomas and instances of hyperplasia were found in 27 of the 40 rats in the caffeine group, compared to 9 of the 30 rats in the control group. The histologic classification used was microadenoma, papillary (or sinusoidal) macroadenoma, and diffuse macroadenomas. These adenomas appeared to be endocrinologically nonfunctioning.
D000236:Adenoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006965:Hyperplasia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000473:pathology; D010911:Pituitary Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000473:pathology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains
D002110:Caffeine