Nonlinear effects of caffeine on the viability, synthesis and gene expression of chondrocytes from the offspring of rats treated during pregnancy.

Objective: Evaluate the effects of doses of caffeine administered to pregnant rats on the articular cartilage chondrocytes of their offspring.

Methods: Twenty-four adult Wistar rats were randomly assigned to four groups, with one control group and three groups being treated with caffeine at doses of 25, 50 and 100 mg/kg throughout pregnancy. At birth, three offspring/females were euthanized so that the chondrocytes could be extracted.