Reproductive and neurobehavioural effects of phloxine administered to mice

The colour additive phloxine was given in the diet to provide dietary levels of 0 (control), 0.1, 0.3 and 0.9%, from 5 wk of age of the F₀ generation to 8 wk of age of the F₁ generation in mice, and selected reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters were measured. There was little effect of phloxine on either litter size or weight, or sex ratio, whereas the body weight of the pups in the lactation period was significantly increased in all treatment groups. Among the neurobehavioural parameters measured, surface righting at postnatal day 4 of male pups was significantly reduced in all treatment groups. Some parameters of the motor activity of pups at 3 wk of age differed from those of the controls; in particular, the average speed of movement male pups was significantly reduced in all treatment groups. The dose levels of phloxine in this study produced a few adverse effects in reproductive and neurobehavioural parameters in mice.