Effects of chronic caffeine exposure during adolescence and subsequent acute caffeine challenge during adulthood on rat brain serotonergic systems

Caffeine is the most commonly used drug in the world. However, animal studies suggest that chronic consumption of caffeine during adolescence can result in enhanced anxiety-like behavioral responses during adulthood. One mechanism through which chronic caffeine administration may influence subsequent anxiety-like responses is through actions on brainstem serotonergic systems. In order to explore potential effects of chronic caffeine consumption on brainstem serotonergic systems, we evaluated the effects of a 28-day exposure to chronic caffeine (0.3 g/L; postnatal day 28–56) or vehicle administration in the drinking water, followed by 24 h caffeine withdrawal, and subsequent challenge with caffeine (30 mg/kg; s.c.) or vehicle in adolescent male rats. In Experiment 1, acute caffeine challenge induced a widespread activation of serotonergic neurons throughout the dorsal raphe nucleus (DR); this effect was attenuated in rats that had been exposed to chronic caffeine consumption. In Experiment 2, acute caffeine administration profoundly decreased tph2 and slc22a3 mRNA expression throughout the DR, with no effects on htr1a or slc6a4 mRNA expression. Chronic caffeine exposure for four weeks during adolescence was sufficient to decrease tph2 mRNA expression in the DR measured 28 h after caffeine withdrawal. Chronic caffeine administration during adolescence did not impact the ability of acute caffeine to decrease tph2 or slc22a3 mRNA expression. Together, these data suggest that both chronic caffeine administration during adolescence and acute caffeine challenge during adulthood are important determinants of serotonergic function and serotonergic gene expression, effects that may contribute to chronic effects of caffeine on anxiety-like responses. •Acute caffeine administration induces a widespread activation of serotonergic neurons.•Acute caffeine administration decreases tph2 and slc22a3 mRNA expression.•Chronic caffeine consumption for four weeks decreased tph2 mRNA expression.•Acute effects of caffeine on tph2 and slc22a3 mRNA expression persisted after adolescent caffeine consumption.