ABSTRACT
In recent years, concerns have been raised about human reproductive disorders. A variety of physiological adaptations are required to create an environment for optimal fetal development during pregnancy. The widespread consumption of caffeine by pregnant women proposes that it is necessary to determine if caffeine would influence maternal physiology and development of the fetus during pregnancy. The placenta is a crucial organ that allows for the interchange of nutrients, gases, and waste products between the growing foetus and the mother's blood supply. The complex process of placenta development includes a number of molecular, cellular, and physiological alterations. The aim of this study is to assess the development of the placenta following intrauterine exposure to caffeine in Wistar dams. In this study, thirty-two (32) adult Wistar rats weighing between 170 g and 180 g were used. The animals were bred at the Animal House, Department of Anatomy, School of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medical Sciences, University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State, Nigeria, kept in polypropylene cages under room temperature with 12 hours‟ light and dark cycle and fed with pelleted feed and clean tap water. The animals were paired overnight at estrous cycle with sexually active males in the ratio of 2:1. Estreous cycle were confirmed by vaginal lavage. The presence of vaginal plug and/or sperm in the vaginal smear was GD0. The pregnant rats were divided into two groups (A and B) with sixteen (16) rats per group. Group A served as Control and were administered with single intra-peritoneal injection of 1ml of normal saline on GD 11, in addition to free access to feed and water. Group B served as the treated group and were administered single intra-peritoneal injection of 150mg/kg/day from GD11. On each gestational day (GD13, GD15, GD17, and GD19), four (4) animals were sampled from each group and their placentas harvested for histological assessment. The Maternal weight, Fetal Crown Rump Length, Placental weight, Placental diameter major, Placental diameter minor and Fetal weight are the parameters that were taken on the harvested placenta. The harvested placenta and fetus were fixed with 10% neutral buffered formalin before taken to the laboratory for histological assessment. Histological studies showed varying alterations in the histomorphology of the placenta ranging from delayed differentiation of glycogen cells, dilated and congested blood vessels, vacuolar degeneration of glycogen cells islands, poor development of the labyrinth zone and dilated fetal capillaries. In conclusion there is histomorphological evidence that caffeine administration has deleterious effects on the development of the placenta in Wistar rats.
