Reproductive and neurobehavioral effects of brilliant blue FCF in mice.

Brilliant blue FCF of food color was given in the diets of mice at levels of 0% (control), 0.08, 0.24, and 0.72% from 5 weeks of age in the F(0) generation and continuing to 11 weeks of age in the F(1) generation and selected reproductive and neurobehavioral parameters were measured. Mice were mated at 9 weeks of age and dams were delivered offspring at 12 weeks of age. Offspring were weaned at 4 weeks of age. Regarding exploratory behavior at 8 weeks of age in the F(0) generation, movement time (sec) displayed a significant tendency to be increased and the average time of rearing (sec) displayed a significant tendency to be decreased in females in the treatment groups in a trend test (p = 0.019 and 0.027, respectively). In the F(1) generation, the development of surface righting at postnatal day 4 was delayed significantly in the high-dose group (0.72%) in male and female offspring, and those effects were significantly related to dose in a trend test (p< 0.01 for both). Regarding exploratory behavior at 8 weeks of age in the F(1) generation, the number of horizontal activities exhibited a significant tendency to be decreased in females in the treatment groups in a trend test (p = 0.015). Regarding spontaneous behavior, average time of movement (sec) was significantly accelerated in females in the high-dose group. The dose levels of brilliant blue FCF used in the present study produced a few significant effects on neurobehavioral parameters in multiple generations in mice.