Perinatal Exposure to Tartrazine Triggers Oxidative Stress and Neurobehavioral Alterations in Mice Offspring

Abstract

The use of synthetic azo dyes as coloring agents in food products has dramatically increased. This study evaluated the effect of perinatal exposure to tartrazine (TZ) on mice offspring, focusing on neurobehavioral alterations and oxidative stress. The female mice received TZ (2.5 and 5 mg/kg) via oral gavage during pregnancy and the first 15 days after birth. At days 21 and 35 after birth, male mice were sacrificed, and samples were collected for analyses. Perinatal exposure to TZ triggered tissue injury evidenced by the histological alterations and neuronal damage in the cerebrum, medulla oblongata, and cerebellum. TZ provoked lipid peroxidation and diminished cellular antioxidants in different brain regions of the newborns. In addition, TZ increased hemoglobin content, as well as erythrocytes, leukocytes, and platelets count at days 21 and 35 after birth. Both the locomotor behavior and anxiety reflex were significantly altered in mice exposed to TZ. In conclusion, perinatal exposure to TZ within an adequate daily intake range induced oxidative stress and neurobehavioral and hematological alterations in mice offspring. Therefore, consuming foods containing TZ during pregnancy and lactation warrants public awareness.

Anxiogenic and memory impairment effect of food color exposure: upregulation of oxido-neuroinflammatory markers and acetyl-cholinestrase activity in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus

“…Erythrosine and tartrazine treatment resulted in reduction of the amount of time spent exploring the novel objects comparative to the familiar object in the NORT and increased amount of time spent in the closed arm in the EPM. Erythrosine and tartrazine treatment increased cognitive impairment and anxiety associated with the 6 weeks administration to the rats, implying its potential to mediate memory deficit conditions which is accordant with previous reports of erythrosine or tartrazine on rodents ( Ceyhan et al., 2013 ; Albasher et al., 2020 ), confirming that both erythrosine and tartrazine may have the potentials to develop amnesic and anxiodepressive characteristics ( Kamel and El-lethey, 2011 ; Ceyhan et al., 2013 ; Doguc et al., 2019 ; Albasher et al., 2020 ).…”

“…Another maker of pro-oxidants: nitrite and malonaldehyde were measured and we recorded elevated levels in the hippocampal and cortical tissues. Malonaldehyde level is measured to evaluate the end product of lipid peroxidation, a consequence resulting from the elevated reactive oxygen species (ROS) or reactive nitrogen species (RNS) generation in the rat's brain ( Bhatt et al., 2018 ; Albasher et al., 2020 ). The increased nitrite and malonaldehyde concentrations were accompanied by the endogenous antioxidant depletion, glutathione (GSH) and catalase (CAT).…”

“…There are significant concerns regarding the effect of food colorants on human health, most especially in children in which hyperactivity have been reported ( Neeta, 2018 ). Other reports have shown behavioral impairment, psychological deficit and biochemical alterations in organs of laboratory rodents when exposed to artificial food additives or colorants in experimental based study ( Albasher et al., 2020 ). Additionally, continuous exposure to food colorants in experimental rodents reveals reproductive alterations and teratogenicity in newborns, testicular damage, cardiomegaly, kidney and liver damage, immune alteration, gastrointestinal toxicity and also toxic to the hematopoietic system ( Boussada et al., 2017 ; Abd-Elhakim et al., 2018 ; Neeta, 2018 ; Marwa et al., 2019 ).…”

“…Emerging evidence shows that severe exposure to colorants may become neuro-invasive capable of inciting neurodegeneration and or disorders related to neuropsychiatric disease produced through increased biomarkers of oxidative and neuroinflammatory stress ( Albasher et al., 2020 ). These evidences have led to experimental models using animals exposed to colorants to mimic several features of different neurodegenerative disease ( Albasher et al., 2020 ).…”

Morphological and Behavioral Effects in Zebrafish Embryos after Exposure to Smoke Dyes

“…There has been increasing concern about the potential neurotoxic effects of synthetic dyes. For instance, some food coloring dyes have been linked to neurobehavioral alterations such as sleep disorders, hyperactivity, and even autism [ 17 , 18 ]. The developing nervous system and the blood-brain barrier (BBB) are particularly vulnerable to chemicals, with the early onset of exposure linked to many neurological disorders, including autism spectrum disorder, Alzheimer’s disease, and Parkinson’s disease [ 19 ].…”