Cardiorespiratory and Neuroprotective Effects of Caffeine in Neonate Animal Models

Abstract

Caffeine is widely used to improve neonatal health in animals with low vitality. Due to its pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, caffeine stimulates the cardiorespiratory system by antagonism of adenosine receptors and alteration in Ca+2 ion channel activity. Moreover, the availability of intracellular Ca+2 also has positive inotropic effects by increasing heart contractibility and by having a possible positive effect on neonate vitality. Nonetheless, since neonatal enzymatic and tissular systems are immature at birth, there is a controversy about whether caffeine is an effective therapy for newborns. This review aims to analyze the basic concepts of caffeine in neonatal animal models (rat and mouse pups, goat kids, lambs, and piglets), and it will discuss the neuroprotective effect and its physiological actions in reducing apnea in newborns.

Caffeine Administration in Piglets with Low Birthweight and Low Vitality Scores, and Its Effect on Physiological Blood Profile, Acid–Base Balance, Gas Exchange, and Infrared Thermal Response

“…However, in the present study, the decrease in Ca ++ might suggest an adaptative mechanism to hypoxia in response to caffeine and its stimulant cardiovascular effects. Caffeine facilitates intracellular Ca ++ mobilization to improve muscular performance and cardiac activity [60]. In vitro studies have shown that caffeine has benefits on cardiac contractility [61], possibly improving oxygen transportation to other cellular tissues in hypoxic piglets.…”

Strategies and Mechanisms of Thermal Compensation in Newborn Water Buffaloes

“…However, low-vitality newborns present an abnormal behavioral repertoire that impedes colostrum intake and other behaviors that prevent hypothermia [ 95 ]. In this regard, Murray and Leslie [ 97 ] mention that low-vitality neonates cannot ingest colostrum for energy uptake and thermoregulation due to a lack of vigor and energy to stand up and get close to the udder.…”

“…Therefore, calves with low vitality cannot produce heat as efficiently as a normal newborn, and the effect of hypothermia on the delayed response to ingesting colostrum increases neonatal energy depletion and the risk of mortality [ 97 ]. Although some conclusions could be inferred, such as the importance of evaluating the rectal temperature of newborns, some authors have referred to the importance of evaluating physiological data with modified APGAR scores [ 95 ], particularly in water buffalo, in whom vitality assessment at birth is limited.…”

“…According to surface and rectal temperature, the authors concluded that provision of 15 and 20% of colostrum resulted in higher rectal temperatures (15% had 38.1 °C and 20% had 38 °C). The thermal changes between groups of calves can be associated with increased colostrum consumption and development in the absorption and degradation capacity of triglycerides used for heat production [ 97 , 177 ].…”