Histopathological study of tartrazine in Wistar rats (Rattus norvegicus)

The present study on toxicopathology of tartrazine was carried out on 80 Wistar rats comprised of 40 male and 40 female divided into four equal groups, viz., Groups I, II, III and IV. Group I served as control and received distilled water, while Groups II, III and IV received tartrazine @ 50, 100, 200 mg/kg body weight orally dissolved in drinking water for 90 days, respectively. All rats were subjected to pathomorphological studies on 91st day of experiment. No appreciable pathomorphological changes were observed in any organs except liver, kidney, stomach and testis. Histopathological changes in liver were characterized by focal necrosis of hepatocyte, microgranuloma with infiltration of mononuclear cells. Kidney showed congestion, mineralization, infiltration and regenerative tubules whereas infiltration of eosinophils and focal ulceration in mucosal surface of stomach was seen in treatment group rats.