Abstract

The study investigated the effects of acute systemic administration of caffeine on novelty induced behaviours in male and female albino mice. The aim was to assess the effects of gender (if any) on the neurobehavioural response to a single intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection of caffeine. Eighty Swiss albino mice (aged 6-8 weeks, mean weight, 22.5 ± 2.5 g) were divided into four treatment groups (n =20). Open field novelty induced behaviours, that is, horizontal locomotion (line crossing), rearing and grooming were assessed after intraperitoneal injection of varying doses of caffeine (6.25, 12.5, and 25 m/kg) or its vehicle (normal saline). Each parameter was assessed over a thirty minute period. Statistical analyses were carried out using ANOVA followed by the Student-Newman-Keul’s test. Observations in this study were that: (a) caffeine given at these doses stimulated novelty induced behaviours, (b) basal novelty induced  horizontal locomotion and rearing were only slightly (not significantly) higher in females compared to males, (c) at 6.25 mg/kg, males exhibited significant increases in horizontal locomotion and rearing compared to females. The study concluded that gender may play a significant role in the neurobehavioural effects of acutely administered caffeine.

Key words: Caffeine, novelty induced behaviour.