Background: E110 is one of the food colorants which is widely used in dairy products, fast foods, jam and dry beverage powders, aqueous drug solutions, tablets, capsules, toothpastes mouthwashes, hair care products and cosmetics. Doubts have accumulated in recent years that food additives might cause allergic reactions in humans or increase these ailments. In this study, side effects of Sunset yellow FCF (E110) on the embryonic development of chicken spleen were evaluated by means of histological, histomorphometrical and enzyme histochemical methods. Methods: In the study, 250 fertilized broiler eggs obtained from a commercial broodstock were used. Eggs were divided into 5 groups each having 50 eggs. Control eggs were either nontreated or distilled water injected via air sac. The eggs in the experimental groups were injected with 100ng/egg, 500ng/egg and 1.000ng/egg E110 prior to incubation. Blood and spleen samples were taken from randomly selected 10 eggs of each group at 11th, 15th, 18th and 21st days of incubation. Leukocyte formula, alpha-naphtyl acetate esterase-positive and acid phosphatase-positive lymphocyte percentages were determined in the blood samples and embriyonic development of the spleen was assessed in the tissue sections. Results: In the 500ng/egg and 1.000ng/egg E110 injected experimental groups, embryonic development of the spleen retarded, alpha-naphtyl acetate esterase-positive and acid phosphatase-positive lymphocyte rates were significantly depressed. Conclusions: Significant disturbances in the immune system functions of the affected animals might occure at post-natal period of their life.
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