title: Lutein and zeaxanthin toxicity with and without brilliant blue in rabbits.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety profile of solutions containing lutein and zeaxanthin alone or associated with brilliant blue (BB).
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight New Zealand rabbits were used to evaluate 4 concentrations of the various dye solutions: 0.5% lutein/zeaxanthin; 0.5% lutein/zeaxanthin associated with 0.0125% BB; 0.3% lutein/zeaxanthin associated with 0.025% BB; and 0.25% lutein/zeaxanthin associated with 0.05% BB. The pHs of the dye solutions ranged from 6.5 to 7.2 and the osmolarities from 280 to 320 mOsm/mL. Each rabbit had 0.1 mL of one of the dyeing solutions injected into the vitreous cavity of the right eye, while balanced salt solution (BSS) was injected into the left eye as the control. Scotopic electroretinography responses were recorded in all eyes at different time points. The animals were sacrificed at 1 and 7 days after injection; the eyes were analyzed by light and transmission electron microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  No significant (P>0.05) differences were seen in the a- and b-wave amplitudes among groups at any given point in time. Light and electron microscopy findings showed no significant abnormalities either, and were similar to the histological findings after intravitreal BSS injection.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lutein and zeaxanthin alone or in association with BB showed a good safety profile in this experimental model.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Federal University of São Paulo , São Paulo, Brazil .
authors.forename: Bruno Albuquerque
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Furlani
authors.forename: Letícia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barroso
authors.forename: Diogo
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sousa-Martins
authors.forename: Mauricio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maia
authors.forename: Milton Nunes
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Moraes-Filho
authors.forename: Emerson
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Badaro
authors.forename: Renata
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Portella
authors.forename: Acácio Alves
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Lima-Filho
authors.forename: Eduardo Buchelle
authors.initials: EB
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.forename: Rubens
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belfort
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001557:Benzenesulfonates / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004596:Electroretinography; D005123:Eye / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D058449:Intravitreal Injections; D014975:Lutein / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D065146:Zeaxanthins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D001557:Benzenesulfonates; D004396:Coloring Agents; D065146:Zeaxanthins; C006796:brilliant blue; D014975:Lutein