title: Implication of caffeine consumption and recovery on the reproductive functions of adult male Wistar rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study assessed the impact of caffeine consumption and recovery on reproductive functions and fertility of Wistar rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five adult male Wistar rats were divided into seven groups of five rats each. Group A (control) received distilled water (vehicle), while groups B, C, and D were treated orally with 10 mg/kg body weight (BW), 20 mg/kg BW, and 40 mg/kg BW caffeine, respectively, for 30 days. Groups E, F, and G were treated orally with 10 mg/kg BW, 20 mg/kg BW, and 40 mg/kg BW caffeine, respectively, for 30 days and then allowed to recover for another 30 days.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Caffeine caused a decrease in body weight, while recovery groups showed appreciable increase in body weight during recovery. Relative weight of seminal vesicle, prostate, and epididymis decreased dose dependently during treatment but increased during recovery. The liver and kidney weight increased during treatment but reduced during recovery. Sperm count was significantly decreased in both treated and recovery groups. Initial decrease in sperm viability and volume was appreciably reversed during recovery period. Serum level of testosterone increased at high doses, while serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) showed significant decrease. Histological sections of testis in treated groups showed mild congestion of the interstitial blood vessel and subcapsular congestion. However, there was no subcapsular congestion in the recovery groups. All rats in both treated and recovery groups had 100% fertilization success from fertility study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Suggestively, caffeine treatment for 4 weeks could impair body, reproductive organs weight, sperm characteristics, LH/FSH level, and also testicular cyto-architecture. Effects appeared, however, reversible after caffeine withdrawal.
authors.forename: Omobola F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Oluwole
authors.forename: Shakiru A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Salami
authors.forename: Eunice
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ogunwole
authors.forename: Yinusa
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Raji
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004822:Epididymis / Q000187:drug effects; D005298:Fertility / Q000187:drug effects; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone / Q000097:blood; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008597:Menstrual Cycle / Q000187:drug effects; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012098:Reproduction / Q000187:drug effects*; D012669:Seminal Vesicles / Q000187:drug effects; D013076:Sperm Count / Q000379:methods; D013081:Sperm Motility / Q000187:drug effects; D013094:Spermatozoa / Q000187:drug effects; D013737:Testis / Q000187:drug effects; D013739:Testosterone / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine; D013739:Testosterone; D007986:Luteinizing Hormone; D005640:Follicle Stimulating Hormone