LAUSR

Caffeine is one of the main ergogenic resources used in exercise and sports. Previously, we reported the ergogenic mechanism of caffeine through neuronal A 2A R antagonism in the central nervous system [ 1 ]. We now demonstrate that the striatum rules the ergogenic effects of caffeine through neuroplasticity changes. Thirty-four Swiss (8–10 weeks, 47 ± 1.5 g) and twenty-four C57BL/6J (8–10 weeks, 23.9 ± 0.4 g) adult male mice were studied behaviorly and electrophysiologically using caffeine and energy metabolism was studied in SH-SY5Y cells. Systemic (15 mg/kg, i.p.) or striatal (bilateral, 15 μg) caffeine was psychostimulant in the open field ( p < 0.05) and increased grip efficiency ( p < 0.05). Caffeine also shifted long-term depression (LTD) to potentiation (LTP) in striatal slices and increased the mitochondrial mass ( p < 0.05) and membrane potential ( p < 0.05) in SH-SY5Y dopaminergic cells. Our results demonstrate the role of the striatum in the ergogenic effects of caffeine, with changes in neuroplasticity and mitochondrial metabolism.