EFFECTS OF DIAZEPAM AND CYCLOHEXYLADENOSINE ON OPEN-FIELD BEHAVIOR INRATS PERINATALLY EXPOSED TO CAFFEINE

Adult rat offspring earlier exposed to maternally ingested caffeine du ring both gestation and lactation were observed in an open field follo wing acute administration of diazepam or cyclohexyladenosine. While bo th drugs reduced measures of locomotion and emotional reactivity, caff eine-exposed rats showed evidence of greater sensitivity to cyclohexyl adenosine (but not diazepam) as determined by its effects on grooming behavior and tendencies to occupy the center squares of the apparatus. This suggested that adenosine (A1) rather than benzodiazepine recepto r activity had been affected by the perinatal caffeine experience whic h also reduced locomotor activity while increasing center occupancy. T he acute effects of diazepam and cyclohexyladenosine also depended lar gely on the sex of the subjects. Diazepam affected locomotor activity more and both drugs affected defecation less in females than in males. No other interaction involving sex was significant.