Effects of maternal caffeine ingestion on the perinatal cerebrum.

The cerebra of fetal rats from dams given 0.04 or 0.02% caffeine in drinking water ad libitum before and/or during pregnancy were examined on gestational day 21. A low placental weight was induced by caffeine ingestion for a long time throughout premating and pregnancy. A greater reduction in the fetal weight of the cerebrum than that of the body was observed with caffeine ingestion during pregnancy of levels of 1.5-3.0 micrograms caffeine/ml or g wet weight in dams and fetuses. In the cerebra of offspring, the levels of caffeine and theophylline did not change for 4 h after birth, and theophylline was not detected at all after intraperitoneal injection of caffeine. Thus, maternal caffeine should be warned against the fetal cerebral function.