CAFFEINE-INDUCED DISTURBANCES OF EARLY NEUROGENESIS IN WHOLE MOUSE EMBRYO CULTURES

In tote mouse embryos were cultivated at embryonic day 8.5 for 26 h wi th 105, 310 or 620 mu M caffeine; 105-310 mu M correspond to concentra tions transferred by the placenta of heavy caffeine consumers. Failure of neural tube closure, excessive proliferation of neuroepithelial ce lls and premature evagination of telencephalic vesicles were present i n 50% of treated embryos. When reaching the embryonic neural tube befo re neuronal migration, caffeine regionally modifies the schedule and/o r rate of neural cell proliferation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.