3.2.6. Body Weight

Pires et al. [59] measured the effects of chronic caffeine treatment during the prepubertal period on the body weight of juvenile and adult female WKY rats and female SHR. The body weights of the WKY rats and SHRs was were accordingly measured every 2 days during the treatment (14 days) with caffeine (1, 3, or 10 mg/kg, i.p.). The body weight of the adult rats also recorded during the performance of the object recognition task. Statistical comparisons indicated that juvenile rats from the SHR strain presented significantly lower mean body weight than the juvenile WKY rats. Notably, chronic treatment with caffeine did not alter the body weight of the evaluated rat strains. During adulthood, similar results for the body weight of the animals were found. Although significant strain differences were observed, chronic treatment with caffeine throughout the prepubertal period did not alter the final body weight of the animals in adulthood (regardless of strain). Likewise, Pandolfo et al. (2013) [51] found no weight differences among groups following caffeine treatment (2 mg/kg, i.p.).

#### 3.2.7. Neurobiology

Brain Levels of Synaptosomal-Associated Protein-25

França et al. [56] evaluated the effects of caffeine consumption (0.3 mg/mL in drinking water) and physical exercise on running wheels by measuring the brain levels of monoamine, using high-performance liquid chromatography, for 6 weeks. Regarding prefrontal cortex SNAP-25 levels, a statistical analysis revealed a significant increase in SNAP-25 levels in the prefrontal cortex in the group submitted to the combination of caffeine consumption with physical exercise. Regarding hippocampus SNAP-25 levels, the statistical analysis indicated a significant increase in hippocampal SNAP-25 levels selectively in animals submitted to the combination of caffeine consumption with physical exercise.
