Teratogenic effects and the role in the etiology of atopic diseases of erythrosine (FD&C Red No.3)

Abstract

Erythrosine (FD&C Red No.3, di sodium salt of 2,4,5,7-tetra-iodofluores-cein); is used extensively as a colour additive in foods, drugs and cosmetics. Previous stud-ies have shown that some of the food addi-tives, depending on their long-term and short-term use, have potential carcinogenic, toxic and teratogenic effects. In Turkey this colourant has temporary permission of use until studies are completed about it. In addi-tion food colours may cause allergic reac-tioms due to food intolerance. In our study 17 pregnant rats are divided into two groups: control and erythrosine group. 7 Wistar albino rats were adminis-tered 5 ml erythrosine (2mg/ml) by gavage at 7-8-9-10-11th days of their pregnancy. 10 rats in positive control group are given dis-tilled water by gavage. At 20th day of preg-nancy, pregnant rats in both groups sacrificed by cervical dislocation and laparotomy applied. Each live fetus was promptly weighed and examined for congenital anom-alies and the crown-rump lenght was meas-ured. Routine fetal histologie studies and light microscopic examination of the sections stained with H&E was applied. Mast cells are examined in the fetal dermal sections stained with Toluidine Blue. In erythrosine group, there were no congen-ital defects, while the number of mast cells of fetal skins were increased and exocytosis was observed. This was statistically significant (U=IZ p