title: Are there any remarkable effects of prenatal exposure to food colourings on neurobehaviour and learning process in rat offspring?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Artificial food colourings and additives (AFCAs) have long been discussed to have adverse effects on cognition and behaviour in children. In this study, our aim was to assess the probable side effects of prenatal exposure to colouring food additives on neurobehaviour and spatial learning process.
  
  
  METHODS
  We administered 'no observable adverse effect levels' (NOAELs) of common used AFCAs as a mixture (erythrosine, Ponceau 4R, Allura Red AC, Sunset yellow FCF, tartrazine, Amaranth, Brilliant Blue, Azorubine and Indigotine) to female rats before and during gestation and tested their effects on spatial working memory and behaviour in their offspring. Effects of AFCAs on spatial working memory were evaluated by Morris water maze, behavioural and locomotor effects by open-field and forced-swim tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prenatal exposure to commonly used AFCAs had no adverse effects on spatial working memory; however, assessment of interaction of sex and AFCAs on 'latency to locate the visible platform', which was used as a measure of motivation, showed a significant interaction (P < 0.05) on female rats. In addition, AFCAs caused an increase in anxiolytic like effect in the open-field test (P < 0.05) and an increase in mobility time (P < 0.05) in the forced-swim test. We also detected a significant interaction of sex and AFCAs on forced-swim test parameters (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings indicated that prenatal exposure to NOAELs of AFCAs resulted in implicit adverse effects that caused an increase in motility and a decrease in motivation and anxiety in offspring in sex-related manner.
authors.forename: Duygu Kumbul
authors.initials: DK
authors.lastname: Doguc
authors.forename: Firdevs
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Aylak
authors.forename: Ilter
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ilhan
authors.forename: Esin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kulac
authors.forename: Fatih
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gultekin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D001007:Anxiety / Q000139:chemically induced; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005505:Food Coloring Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000139:chemically induced*; D008297:Male; D018782:Maze Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D008570:Memory, Short-Term / Q000187:drug effects; D009042:Motivation / Q000187:drug effects; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009422:Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects / Q000503:physiopathology*; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012737:Sex Factors; D065853:Spatial Learning / Q000187:drug effects; D013550:Swimming
chemical_list: D014151:Anti-Anxiety Agents; D005505:Food Coloring Agents
keywords: Artificial food colourings; Cognition; Forced swim test; Morris water maze; Open field test; Spatial learning