title: Influence of chronic caffeine on MDMA-induced behavioral and neuroinflammatory response in mice.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous research suggests that chronic daily caffeine administration protects against brain injury in different animal models of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases, ischemic and traumatic brain injury, and allergic encephalitis. However, little is known about the effects of chronic caffeine administration on 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)-induced neuroinflammation.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study examines whether chronic caffeine (10, 20, or 30 mg/kg, i.p, for 21 consecutive days) protects against MDMA-induced astrocytic and microglial activation in mice striatum, impairing its neuroinflammatory effects. Additionally, locomotor activity, sensoriomotor reflexes, body temperature, and anxiety were evaluated after caffeine injection on days 0 (basal), 7, 14, and 21 of the chronic treatment in order to assess possible behavioral alterations due to caffeine administration.
  
  
  METHODS
  On day 22, mice pretreated with caffeine or saline received a neurotoxic regimen of MDMA (3 × 20 mg/kg, i.p., 2-h interval) or saline, and changes in body temperature were evaluated. Forty-eight hours after last MDMA or saline injection (day 24), the aforementioned behavioral parameters were investigated and microglia and astroglia activation to MDMA treatment was examined in the mouse striatum.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caffeine (10 mg/kg) chronically administered completely prevented MDMA-induced glial activation without inducing physiological or behavioral alterations in any of the assays performed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Chronic caffeine consumption at low doses exerts anti-inflammatory effects and prevents MDMA-induced neuroinflammation.
authors.affiliation: Grup de Recerca en Neurobiologia del Comportament-GReNeC, Departamento de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, C/Dr. Aiguader 88, 08003 Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Medina
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pinto-Xavier
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rodríguez-Arias
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Miñarro
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Valverde
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003342:Corpus Striatum / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008124:Locomotion / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D017628:Microglia / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020258:Neurotoxicity Syndromes / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012018:Reflex / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants; D002110:Caffeine; D018817:N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine