A STUDY ON THE REPRODUCTIVE TOXICITY OF ERYTHROSINE IN MALE-MICE

Worldwide usage of different colouring agents in the food industry pro mpted us to study their toxicity, The potential adverse effects of ery throsine (ER, FD & C Red No.3) on the spermatogenesis process were inv estigated in adult mice. Testicular lactic dehydrogenase isoenzyme act ivity (LDH-X), a pachytene spermatocyte marker of testicular toxicity, was significantly decreased to 71.8% and 68.6% of the control value a fter daily p,o. administration of ER (21 days) in doses of 68 and 136 mg kg(-1) respectively. At the same time, the normal average epididyma l sperm count as well as the percentage of motile sperms were signific antly inhibited by about 50% and 57% respectively. Moreover, ER was sh own to disrupt the normal morphology of the sperm head. Thus, after 5 daily p,o administrations of ER in doses of 680 and 1360 mg kg(-1)(equ ivalent to 10 and 20% of its LD50) it increased the incidence of sperm s with abnormal head by about 57% and 65% respectively. The induced in crease in sperm abnormalities could enhance the spermatogenic dysfunct ion and germ cell mutagenicity. These findings indicate that ER in the used doses has a potential toxic effect on spermatogenesis in mice an d in turn, it may affect its testicular function and reproductive perf ormance. (C) 1997 The Italian Pharmacological Society.