The Effects of Caffeine on the Learning and Memory in Rats

  AR. Vahidi PharmD^1* , MH. Dasht i PhD²

  1 - Academic Member, Dept. of Pharmacology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical sciences, Yazd, IRAN

  2. Assistant Professor, Dept. of Physiology, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical sciences , Yazd, IRAN

  Background: Caffeine as a methyl xanthine compound inhibits the breakdown of cyclic AMP, and causes an increase of the intracellular Ca⁺² of different cells. It also may be involved in enhancement of learning and memory via this rout. In this study the effect of caffeine on learning and memory has been evaluated.

  Materials and Methods: In this study the effects of different concentrations of caffeine (10, 20, 40, 80 mg/kg), on the learning and memory in male rats weighting 250-300 gr, were evaluated. The rats (30) were divided into 5 groups (4 test groups and 1 control group). The effects were assessed by using the one way active avoidance method. The test groups recieved different doses of caffeine in 3ml/kg normal saline (N.S), and the animals in the control group recived only N.S (3ml/kg) intraperitoneally, 30 minutes before each test.

  Results: The data obtained from the test group was compared with the control group statistically. Our results indicated that caffeine affect on learning and memory dose depently. Using 10 mg/kg caffeine significantly increased the mean percentage of learning (p<0.05), and the doses of (10, 20, 40 mg/kg) significantly elevated the level of short term memory. Although in the case of the long term memory all doses of caffeine (10, 20, 40 and 80 mg/kg) showed a significant difference between the test and the control groups, the result for 80 mg/kg dose was reversed.

  Conclusion: Our results indicated that caffeine in low doses enhances the prosess of learning and memory but in higher doses it may suppress them.

  Key words: Caffeine, Learning, Memory, Rat

  *Corresponding author Tel: (0351)6224824, Fax: (0351)7249331, E-mail:arvahidi@yahoo.com

  Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, 2004, 3(3): 180-187