title: Stimulatory effect of oral administration of green tea and caffeine on locomotor activity in SKH-1 mice.
abstract: Administration of green tea or caffeine was shown previously to inhibit ultraviolet B light-induced carcinogenesis in SKH-1 mice, and this effect was associated with a reduction in dermal fat. In the present study, oral administration of 0.6% green tea (6 mg tea solids/ml) or 0.04% caffeine (0.4 mg/ml; equivalent to the amount of caffeine in 0.6% green tea) as the sole source of drinking fluid to SKH-1 mice for 15 weeks increased total 24 hr locomotor activity by 47 and 24%, respectively (p<0.0001). Oral administration of 0.6% decaffeinated green tea (6 mg tea solids/ml) for 15 weeks increased locomotor activity by 9% (p<0.05). The small increase in locomotor activity observed in mice treated with decaffeinated green tea may have resulted from the small amounts of caffeine still remaining in decaffeinated green tea solutions (0.047 mg/ml). The stimulatory effects of orally administered green tea and caffeine on locomotor activity were paralleled by a 38 and 23% increase, respectively, in the dermal muscle layer thickness. In addition, treatment of the mice with 0.6% green tea or 0.04% caffeine for 15 weeks decreased the weight of the parametrial fat pad by 29 and 43%, respectively, and the thickness of the dermal fat layer was decreased by 51 and 47%, respectively. These results indicate that oral administration of green tea or caffeine to SKH-1 mice increases locomotor activity and muscle mass and decreases fat stores. The stimulatory effect of green tea and caffeine administration on locomotor activity described here may contribute to the effects of green tea and caffeine to decrease fat stores and to inhibit carcinogenesis induced by UVB in SKH-1 mice.
authors.affiliation: Joint Graduate Program in Toxicology, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey and The University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Michna
authors.forename: Yao-Ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: You-Rong
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Lou
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Wagner
authors.forename: Allan H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Conney
mesh_terms: D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001923:Brain Chemistry; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000032:analysis; D004326:Drinking / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D006719:Homovanillic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid / Q000032:analysis; D051379:Mice; D008812:Mice, Hairless; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D009132:Muscles / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D017440:Photoperiod; D012701:Serotonin / Q000032:analysis; D013662:Tea
chemical_list: D013662:Tea; D015102:3,4-Dihydroxyphenylacetic Acid; D012701:Serotonin; D002110:Caffeine; D006897:Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid; D004298:Dopamine; D006719:Homovanillic Acid