Investigation of the effects of caffeine in a mouse head trauma model

Introduction & Objectives: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a condition that carries significant risks of disability and death. Primary damage occurs at the time of trauma, whereas secondary damage develops afterward, involving cellular and molecular disruptions. Major causes of secondary injury include inadequate gas exchange, hypotension, and inflammatory response. Although caffeine, as an adenosine receptor antagonist, has shown neuroprotective effects, its acute impact on TBI is not fully understood. This study aims to evaluate the effects of caffeine on neurological and inflammatory processes in the early period after trauma in a mouse head trauma model. Material & Methods: A total of 32 Swiss albino mice were used in this study. The animals were divided into 4 groups of 8 mice each (n=8). The groups included 8 naive mice, 8 sham mice, 8 control mice, and 8 caffeine-treated mice. A head trauma model was created by dropping a 75 g free weight from a height of 9 cm onto the animals. One hour after the trauma, the control group received an intraperitoneal injection of saline, while the experimental group received an intraperitoneal injection of 15 mg/kg caffeine. Neurological assessments were performed at 1 and 24 hours post-trauma using the mNSS, and the mice were sacrificed for histopathological evaluation of brain tissue, which was compared with the control group. Results: No statistically significant difference was observed in the ΔmNSS values between the control and treatment groups at 1 and 24 hours post-trauma. Histopathological examination of coronal brain sections stained with hematoxylin-eosin (H-E) taken 24 hours after trauma showed that caffeine treatment did not produce the expected positive effects on secondary injury compared to the control group. Conclusion: In a mild head trauma model induced by weight drop in Swiss albino mice, a single dose of 15 mg/kg caffeine administered 1 hour after trauma did not lead to neurological improvement. At the histopathological level, caffeine treatment had no significant effect on traumatic brain injury. Further studies are needed to investigate different doses, application durations, and long-term effects. Keywords: Traumatic brain injury, inflammation, caffeine, head trauma, secondary injury