1

Caffeine and its Effects on Toad (Bufo marinus L.)

Kerr Ann SD. Campos

Group 1 Section T-6L

February 23, 2011

1 A scientific paper submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements in

General Biology 2 laboratory under Prof. Darlene Pagaduan, 2nd

semester 2010-2011.

ABSTRACT

The effect of caffeine on toad was determined by

administration of caffeine solution to the test subjects. There
were two methods used in this study, first is the observation of
the changes in the behavior of the two toads, with the first
setup subjected to a caffeine solution and the other to water,
serving as the control setup. The toad subjected to caffeine
showed changes in behavior- it was more active than the other
one and it showed rapid movements, as compared to the toad
in the control setup. The observation was done for a period of
thirty minutes.
The second method involved subjecting the first toad to
caffeine and the other to water then dissecting them both. A
comparison was made between the two setups. It was noted that
there were changes in the heart rate of the toad with caffeine as
compared to the control.
Thus, it showed that caffeine altered some of the normal
vital processes like the heart rate and respiration rate, as well as
the physical behavior of the toad.

INTRODUCTION

Caffeine is a central nervous stimulant that is legal in all parts of the

world. It is also as considered the most widely abused drug.
Caffeine is a very common psychoactive drug along with nicotine and
alcohol that affects the action of neurotransmitters in the brains billions of
synapses. It can be found in coffee, tea, chocolate and many soft drinks, keeps

us awake by countering the effects of inhibitory neurotransmitters (Campbell and

Reece, 2002).
Caffeine induces a slightly elevated mood, alertness, sensitivity of
touch, smell, sight, and hearing. It can also cause nervousness, irritability,
insomnia, tremors, and depression. The physical effects can include constricted
cerebral blood vessels, increased blood flow in the body, heart stimulation,
increased basal metabolic rate, limited glucose metabolism, relaxation in some
smooth muscles, and increased urine flow.
Caffeine also shortens sleep time, reduced depth of sleep, increases
early dream-state sleep and reduces later dream-state sleep. It can intensify
elevated blood pressure effects when combined with tobacco smoking. Caffeine
is also sometimes substituted for amphetamine street drugs.
When used in moderation, caffeine has many beneficial effects. But
when abused and taken in large quantities may have detrimental effects on the
body.
Since it was discovered, humans have taken in caffeine as medication
or simply as beverages. It has been proven to induce wakefulness among
consumers and users.
Since it was proven that caffeine present in coffee affected some
processes in humans, it gave us the hypothesis that when taken in, caffeine
affects processes in other organisms like toads as well; in such a way that it

speeds up the organisms heart and respiration rate as well as induce changes to
its normal behavior.
The main objective of the study was to confirm alterations to the toads
normal processes like the wakefulness, increased heart and respiration rate.
The study took place in room C-125 of the Institute of Biological
Sciences of the University of the Philippines Los Baos, in the duration of the
laboratory class of 4:00- 7:00pm, February 9, 2011.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In carrying the study on the effects of caffeine on toads, four toads of
the same size were acquired and assigned as setups A, B, C and D. Of the four
setups, the toads in A and C were subjected to the variable factor caffeine by
giving them 5 ml of an 80% caffeine solution with the use of a dropper while
toads on B and D were given 5 ml of water to serve as the control setups.
Setups A and B was then observed for difference in behavior and heart
rate through manual inspection while setups C and D was observed internally by
making incisions with the use of the tools of a dissecting kit. The differences in
the movements of the heart of the two toads was noted and then compared, with
toad D being the reference for the normal heart movements.
The results of the experiment will be discussed in the Results and
Discussion portion.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The first experiment yielded results from the observation of toads in
setups A and B, as seen on Table 1, results showed that the caffeine- induced
toad had significant changes to its behavior, just like in humans, the toad seemed
to have a sudden burst of energy, making it hyperactive and restless, as
compared to the water- induced toad that did not have any changes in its
behavior or whatsoever.
On the other hand, the result of the second method used can be
clearly interpreted with the help of Figure 1. It can be seen through the figure that
there was a significant difference between the heart rates of the two toads with
the one that have taken in caffeine having a faster heart rate than the toad which
has only taken in water.
In this study, there might be disregarded factors that caused
discrepancies in the results like the age of the toads, the substances that they
have taken in before the experiment, their sizes and even their age, rendering
the results erroneous.
Though there were factors that were not considered, the results were
in consistency with the hypothesis that the presence of large quantities of
caffeine in the toads system altered some of its vital processes.

Table 1. Comparison of caffeine- induced toad and water- induced toad based on
different criteria

Criteria

Caffeine- induced toad

Water- induced toad

Movements

Showed rapid, sudden

movements and
constantly moved from
place to place

Showed slow movements

Respiration rate

Faster than control toad

Slower than caffeine

induced toad

Irritability

Responsive, moves away

when shooed

Idle, even when shooed

120
100
80

Heart Rate

60
Caffeine- induced toad
Water- induced toad

40
20
0
0

10

20

30

40

50

60

Time elapsed (seconds)

Figure 1. A line graph showing the differences on the heart rates of the two toads
observed

SUMMARY AND CONCLUSION

On the first part of the study, the effect of caffeine on the physical
behavior of the toad was determined. Two setups namely A and B were
prepared. The first setup which served as the control had the toad that was
induced with water and the other had the toad that was induced with caffeine.
Both were observed for thirty minutes and differences in movements, respiration
rate and irritability among the two were noted. Results show that the toad
induced with caffeine was more active and responsive, and it also had a faster
heart rate.
On the other method, the effect of caffeine on the toads heart rate was
determined. Same as the procedure on the first two setups, one toad was
subjected to caffeine and the other to plain water. Afterwards, both toads were
dissected to be able to have a much vivid view on the toads heart beat. This was
measured by manually counting their heart beats for one minute.
The result of the second method was represented in Figure 1 and it
showed that the caffeine-induced toad had a faster heart rate of 96 bpm (beats
per minute) than the water-induced toad with 89 bpm.
Thus, the results were in line with the hypothesis presented that it
altered processes in the toad, in such a way that it made an increase in the
toads heart and respiration rate, as well as in its level of energy and alertness.

LITERATURE CITED

Arms, K., Camp, P. S., Jenner, J. V. and Zalisko E.J. 1994, 1991, 1988. Biology:
A Journey into Life. 3rd edition.USA.; Saunders College Publishing
Harcourt Brace College Publishers p. 117
Campbell, N.A. and Reece, J. B. 2002. Biology. 6th edition. San Francisco;
Benjamin Cummings Publishing Company Inc. pp.626-627
Chawla, J. and Suleman, A. 2008. Caffeine. <http://emedicine.medscape.
com/article/1182710-overview> Accessed February 18, 2011.
Kimball, J.W. 1994. Biology. 6th edition. Iowa. Wm. C. Brown pp.752
Numerous Contributors. 2006. Caffeine. < http://www.cmcsb.com/caffeine. htm>
Accessed February 18, 2011.