Regulation of cerebrospinal fluid production by caffeine consumption.
BACKGROUND
Caffeine is the most commonly consumed psycho-stimulant in the world. The effects of caffeine on the body have been extensively studied; however, its effect on the structure of the brain has not been investigated to date.


RESULTS
In the present study we found that the long-term consumption of caffeine can induce ventriculomegaly; this was observed in 40% of the study rats. In the caffeine-treated rats with ventriculomegaly, there was increased production of CSF, associated with the increased expression of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and increased cerebral blood flow (CBF). In contrast to the chronic effects, acute treatment with caffeine decreased the production of CSF, suggesting 'effect inversion' associated with caffeine, which was mediated by increased expression of the A1 adenosine receptor, in the choroid plexus of rats chronically treated with caffeine. The involvement of the A1 adenosine receptor in the effect inversion of caffeine was further supported by the induction of ventriculomegaly and Na+, K+-ATPase, in A1 agonist-treated rats.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study show that long-term consumption of caffeine can induce ventriculomegaly, which is mediated in part by increased production of CSF. Moreover, we also showed that adenosine receptor signaling can regulate the production of CSF by controlling the expression of Na(+), K(+)-ATPase and CBF.
Han
Myoung-Eun
ME
Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea. corsaro@paran.com
Kim
Hak-Jin
HJ
Lee
Young-Suk
YS
Kim
Dong-Hyun
DH
Choi
Joo-Taek
JT
Pan
Chul-Sik
CS
Yoon
Sik
S
Baek
Sun-Yong
SY
Kim
Bong-Seon
BS
Kim
Jae-Bong
JB
Oh
Sae-Ock
SO
D000818:Animals; D015153:Blotting, Western; D002110:Caffeine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002552:Cerebral Ventricles / Q000473:pathology; D002555:Cerebrospinal Fluid / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology*; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D002831:Choroid Plexus / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1 / Q000378:metabolism; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase / Q000378:metabolism; D013806:Theophylline / Q000097:blood
D043682:Receptor, Adenosine A1; D002110:Caffeine; D013806:Theophylline; D000254:Sodium-Potassium-Exchanging ATPase