Coffee and Caffeine Consumption in Reproductive Functions of Adult Wistar Rats

Coffee from Coffea arabica is a popular beverage consumed worldwide. Its effect on health has been a global puzzle. In this study, the effect of coffee and caffeine consumption on some reproductive structures and functions of Wistar rats were investigated. A hundred and seventy-five (175) Wistar rats bred in the Animal house of the Faculty of Basic Medical Science of Delta State University were used for this study. All experimental rats were treated for four (4) weeks. Group 1, control, received food and water only, groups 2, 3 and 4 received 40 mg/kg, 60 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg, doses of Coffee respectively while Groups 5, 6 and 7 received 30 mg/kg, 45 mg/kg and 60 mg/kg doses of Caffeine respectively. After administration of test substances, animals were sacrificed accordingly with serum samples collected. While testes, hypothalamus and hippocampus were harvested for histological studies, serum samples were analysed for specific parameters. In Unit two (2) Seventy-five (75) rats of both sexes were mated and treated in varying mating and treatment groups accordingly until after gestation. Then, the weight, litter size, survival rate and gestation length were measured. Both Caffeine and Coffee treatments showed a dose-dependent effect on most parameters measured. Coffee was found to increase antioxidant enzymes, decrease liver enzymes and also negatively affected reproductive outcome. All comparisons were done at (P≤0.05), using 1-tailed ANOVA.