Effect of combined administration of caffeine, taurine and high doses of ethanol in mice motor activity and sleep pattern

• Grant number: 06/04958-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Master
• Start date: March 01, 2007
• End date: February 28, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Pharmacology - Neuropsychopharmacology
• Principal Investigator: Maria Lucia Oliveira de Souza Formigoni
• Grantee: Gabriela Naomi Kowara Fujisaka
• Host Institution: Departamento de Psicobiologia. Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Ethanol is a psychotropic drug that presents a dose-dependent biphasic effect. In low doses it induces euphoria and agitation; while in high doses induces predominantly depressant effects, including alterations in motor coordination and hypnotic effect. Ethanol reduces the time of latency for the beginning of sleep and modifies its pattern, for intervening with the action of many neurotransmitters, among them glutamato and GABA. Many studies had been carried through on drugs that could antagonize the effect of ethanol acute intoxication, mainly regarding the depressant effect on the SNC, among them caffeine. It has been observed a fast popularization of the combined ingestion of alcohol and energy drinks, consisting of caffeine, taurine and other components. Users of this combination had mentioned to use whiskey with energy drink to remain stimulated all night, without feeling the depressant effect of alcohol. In studies previously carried through with mice, it was observed that the simultaneous administration of low doses of ethanol with energy drinks increased the effect stimulant, observed as an increase in the locomotor activity. Besides, its chronic administration increases the sensitization to that effect. However, there is few data on its effectiveness of the combined administration of ethanol and energy drinks components in reducing the deleterious effects of high doses of ethanol on locomotor coordination, as well as on sleep pattern. The objective of the present project is to evaluate the effect of the simultaneous administration of high doses of ethanol and the main components of energy drinks (caffeine and taurine) on the locomotor coordination and on the sleep pattern of mice.