Thesis (M.Sc.) - Cairo University - Faculty of Veterinary Medicine - Department of Histology and Cytology

The possibility that caffeine is a C.N.S. stimulant has neuroendocrinological effect on the pituitary, adrenal and thyroid gland on a short- & long- term consumption has been studied. 91 male adult Sprage - Dawely rats (200-250 gm.) were used & divided into groups: control group and caffeinated group that were injected I/P with different doses of caffeine (5, 50 (ED50) and 100 mg/kg b. wt.) for short-term period (2hr, 4hr and 24hr) and long-term period (1 month). Specimens of glands were collected and processed for histological, histochemical, ultrastructure study. Blood samples were collected for physiological analysis of T3, T4 and corticosterone. Examination of control group and groups receiving caffeine at dose level 5 mg/kg b. wt. for a short period revealed no significance changes in the histological architecture of the glands while groups that receiving 50 &100 mg/kg b. wt. caffeine for a short term showed hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the adenohypophyseal cells but after long term consumption the basophils became enlarged, pale stained and showed degranulation with prominent negative Golgi image while acidophils showed prominent hyperplasia degree of activity

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