A Study Of The Effects Of Caffeine On Thymus Gland Development And Birth Weight In Mice Of The BALB/c Strain

Abstract

Female mice of the BALB/c strain were injected with caffeine for fifty days, during which time they gave birth to two litters. Subcutaneous injections of a 0.84 mg/ml and a 1.68 mg/ml caffeine solution were given to the two experimental groups of females. The control group received injections of saline only. Thymus glands from the pups of the second set of litters bom were removed, weighed, and examined histologically. Birth weights of the pups were recorded. Comparative histological examination of the thymus glands reveals a higher epithelial reticular cell to T-lymphocyte ratio in the caffeine receiving groups. Statistical analysis of thymus gland and birth weights of the caffeine receiving groups shows a significant difference when compared to those of the controls.