A possible effect of the methylxanthines caffeine, theophylline and aminophylline on postnatal myelination of the rat brain.
A double isotope methodology was used to assess the effect of methylxanthine administration on membrane protein synthesis in developing rat brain. Rat pups were given either aminophylline, theophylline, or caffeine in a dosage of 40 mg/kg or 80 mg/kg daily from the second postnatal day through 20 days of age. Results show depressed myelin protein synthesis at 21.24 days by theophylline (80 mg/kg) and caffeine (40 and 80 mg/kg). Synthesis was essentially normal at 27-28 days of age, indicating a possible delay in development followed by a 'catch-up' phenomenon.
D000375:Aging; D000628:Aminophylline / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects / Q000254:growth & development*; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009186:Myelin Sheath / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D013806:Theophylline / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000628:Aminophylline; D002110:Caffeine; D013806:Theophylline