title: Effects of caffeine on locomotor activity in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.
abstract: Diabetes mellitus modifies the expression of adenosine receptors in the brain. Caffeine acts as an antagonist of A1 and A2A adenosine receptors and was shown to have a dose-dependent biphasic effect on locomotion in mice. The present study investigated the link between diabetes and locomotor activity in an animal model of streptozotocin-induced diabetes, and the effects of a low-medium dose of caffeine in this relation. The locomotor activity was investigated by using Open Field Test at 6 weeks after diabetes induction and after 2 more weeks of chronic caffeine administration. Diabetes decreased locomotor activity (total distance moved and mobility time). Chronic caffeine exposure impaired the locomotor activity in control rats, but not in diabetic rats. Our data suggested that the medium doses of caffeine might block the A2A receptors, shown to have an increased density in the brain of diabetic rats, and improve or at least maintain the locomotor activity, offering a neuroprotective support in diabetic rats.Abbreviations: STZ = streptozotocin, OFT = Open Field Test.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Fundamental Neuroscience, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: S V
authors.initials: SV
authors.lastname: Bădescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania; Emergency Eye Hospital, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: C P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Tătaru
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Fundamental Neuroscience, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kobylinska
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Fundamental Neuroscience, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Georgescu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Fundamental Neuroscience, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Zahiu
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Fundamental Neuroscience, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zăgrean
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology and Fundamental Neuroscience, "Carol Davila" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zăgrean
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D003921:Diabetes Mellitus, Experimental / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D013311:Streptozocin
chemical_list: D002110:Caffeine; D013311:Streptozocin
keywords: caffeine; diabetes mellitus; locomotor activity; rat; streptozotocin