Histological study on the effect of some food colouring agents on the spleen of adult male albino rats

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of three synthetic food coloring agents commonly used in Egypt [tartrazine, brilliant blue and sunset yellow] on the spleen. Sixty-four adult male albino rats were used in this study and were divided into eight groups of eight animals each. The results showed that giving ADI of any of the three coloring agents for one or two months caused no histological changes in the spleen compared with the control group. On the other hand, giving 5 ADI of any of the three coloring agents caused histological changes in the spleen in the form of atrophy of white pulp, depletion of lymphocytes and dilatation and congestion of the blood vessels and blood sinusoids of the red pulp. There was an increase in the number of macrophages. Collagen content was increased, while reticular fibers were damaged and fragmented. These effects were more obvious after two months