Effects of Caffeine Consumption during Lactation on Postnatal Development of Testis in Offspring Wistar Rats

During recent decades, there are reports about the decrease of sperm production ability in men affected by different factors. Caffeine is one of the popular nutrients extensively used in human populations and its reproductive effects have been reported. So, present study was aimed to determine the effects of caffeine consumption during lactation on postnatal development of testis in offspring Wistar rat. Female Wistar rats were exposed to low and high doses (25 and 35 mg/kg) of caffeine via drinking water during lactation. The testes of pups were removed at 21, 28, 60, and 90 days of postnatal development, their weights recorded and the tissues were fixed in Bouin’s solution. Then, the volumes of testes were estimated by Cavellieri method. Mean body weight decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in high dose group at all ages of postnatal development. Mean testis relative weight and total volume were decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at 28, 60 and 90 days of age in 35 mg/kg dose group. Significant (P < 0.05) decreases were seen in means of seminiferous tubules diameter and germinal epithelium at 28, 60, and 90 days of age in high dose treatment group. Also, serum testosterone levels decreased significantly (P < 0.05) at puberty in high dose group. Present study indicates that caffeine consumption during lactation can reduce efficiency of spermatogenesis and fertility in offspring Wistar rats at puberty.