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C.I. Pigment Red 3, a yellowish red solid, is widely used for coloring paints, inks, plastics, and rubber, and in textile printing. It is used in a wide range of consumer items such as wallpaper, typewriter ribbons, carbon paper, and art materials. Toxicology and carcinogenicity studies were conducted by feeding groups of F344/N rats and B6C3F1 mice of each sex diets containing C.I. Pigment Red 3 (97% pure) for 2 weeks, 13 weeks, and 2 years. Genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium and cultured Chinese hamster ovary cells. 2-Week Studies: Groups of five rats and five mice of each sex were given feed containing 0, 6,000, 12,500, 25,000, 50,000, or 100,000 ppm C.I. Pigment Red 3 for 2 weeks. No chemical-related deaths occurred in rats or mice. Final mean body weights of exposed rats and male mice were lower than controls; female mice that received 6,000 and 50,000 ppm had significantly increased final mean body weights compared to that of the controls. The feed consumption of treated rats and mice was slightly greater than that of the controls, suggesting that C.I. Pigment Red 3 had no adverse effects on the feed palatability. Dose-related decreases in erythrocyte counts and hematocrit values and an increase in reticulocyte counts were observed in rats. Changes in these parameters were observed in mice, but there were no clear, dose-related trends. 13-Week Studies: Groups of ten rats and ten mice of each sex were given feed containing 0, 3,000, 6,000, 12,500, 25,000, or 50,000 ppm C.I. Pigment Red 3 for 13 weeks. No chemical-related deaths were observed in rats or mice. The final mean body weights of exposed female rats were significantly lower than that of the controls; the final mean body weights of exposed male rats and exposed mice were similar to controls. There were significant increases in relative liver and kidney weights of exposed male rats. Increases in the relative liver weights in mice did not occur with a dose-related trend and thus they were not considered related to chemical administration. Sites for the toxicity of C.I. Pigment Red 3 were the bone marrow, kidney, liver, and spleen in rats. Lesions observed in rats included bone marrow hyperplasia, congestion and hematopoietic cell proliferation of the spleen, and iron-positive pigmentation of the spleen, kidney, and liver. Sites for the toxicity of C.I. Pigment Red 3 in mice were the liver, kidney, and spleen in males and the liver and spleen in females. Lesions noted among mice in the spleen were hematopoietic cell proliferation and iron-positive pigmentation. In the liver, there was hematopoietic cell proliferation in male and female mice. Cytomegaly occurred in the renal tubule epithelium of the male mouse kidney. 2-Year Studies: Doses selected for the 2-year feed studies were 0, 6,000, 12,500, and 25,000 ppm for rats and 0, 12,500, 25,000, and 50,000 ppm for mice. The dose selection for rats was based on body weight changes observed for females that received 50,000 ppm; the dose selection for mice was based on the lack of body weight depression or death at the doses tested during the 13-week studies. Concentrations higher than 50,000 ppm in the feed were not used because higher levels might have adversely affected the nutritional value of the diet during the 2-year studies. Body Weight, Feed Consumption, Clinical Findings, and Survival in the 2-Year Studies: Final mean body weights for male rats that received 25,000 ppm, female rats that received 12,500 and 25,000 ppm, and male and female mice that received 50,000 ppm were more than 10% lower than those of the controls. Feed consumption of exposed rats and mice was similar to that of the controls. No clinical findings indicative of toxicity were observed in rats or mice. The survival of low-dose male rats was greater than that of the controls (0 ppm, 28/50; 6,000 ppm, 40/50; 12,500 ppm, 28/50; 25,000 ppm, 20/50). Survival of exposed female rats and exposed male mice was similar to the controls; the survival of high-dose female mice was significantly decreased compared to thcompared to that of the controls (39/50, 37/50, 31/50, 25/50). The reduced survival in this dose group may have been due to the increased incidence of ovarian abscesses. Neoplasms and Nonneoplastic Lesions in the 2-Year Studies: Benign adrenal pheochromocytomas were significantly increased in the 12,500 and 25,000 ppm groups of male rats compared to the controls (22/50, 29/50, 35/50, 34/50). However, malignant neoplasms were not increased in incidence (6/50, 7/50, 10/50, 4/50). The incidence of adrenal pheochromocytomas in dosed groups exceeded the range for NTP historical controls for feed studies (22%-48%), and the increased incidence of this neoplasm was attributed to C.I. Pigment Red 3 administration. Squamous cell papillomas of the skin occurred with a positive trend in male rats (0/50, 4/50, 2/50, 6/50), and the incidence in the high-dose group was significantly greater than that of the controls. A poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (diagnosed as carcinoma) was observed in a control male. The historical control rate for squamous cell papillomas in NTP feed studies is low (16/800 or 2%, range 0%-4%), and the higher incidence of this tumor in male rats may have been caused by the administration of C.I. Pigment Red 3. Hepatocellular adenomas occurred with a positive trend in female rats, with a significantly greater incidence in the high-dose group than in the control group (0/50, 0/50, 1/50, 10/50). This neoplasm has occurred in only one historical control group in NTP feed studies (3/800, range 0%-6%), and the increase in hepatocellular adenomas in female rats was attributed to chemical administration. Chemical-related nonneoplastic lesions observed in the livers of male and female rats included eosinophilic or mixed type foci of cellular alteration. Foci were often accompanied by angiectasis and cystic degeneration in males and by granulomas and cholesterol pigmentation in females. Chronic nephropathy occurred with increased severity in exposed male and female rats. The lesions were more severe in males than in females. Other lesions considered secondary to renal disease included parathyroid gland hyperplasia, fibrous osteodystrophy of the bone, and mineralization of various organs (stomach, intestine, heart, and blood vessels). The increased incidence of hyperplasia of the transitional epithelium of the renal papilla observed in treated rats was considered to be part of the chronic nephropathy. Zymbal's gland carcinoma incidences were marginally increased in the mid- and high-dose male rats (0/50, 0/50, 2/50, 3/50). The incidence in the high-dose group was outside the NTP historical control range (0%-4%), and the Zymbal's gland carcinomas may have been related to C.I. Pigment Red 3 administration. Mononuclear cell leukemias, mammary gland fibroadenomas, and preputial gland/clitoral gland adenomas occurred at lower incidences in exposed male and female rats. The decrease in mononuclear cell leukemia was attributed to the direct effect of C.I. Pigment Red 3 or its metabolites on the mechanism responsible for inducing leukemias in aging rats, while the decreased incidence of mammary gland fibroadenomas might be attributed to decreased body weights in female rats. The cause of the decreased incidences of preputial and clitoral gland tumors is unknown. Tubule adenomas of the renal cortex occurred at a significantly higher incidence in high-dose male mice than in controls (0 ppm, 0/50; 12,500 ppm, 0/50; 25,000 ppm, 0/50; 50,000 ppm, 6/50). Because this tumor occurred only in exposed males and was outside the range for NTP historical controls in feed studies (0%-2%), renal cortical tubule adenomas in male mice were considered to be related to the administration of C.I. Pigment Red 3. Follicular cell adenoma of the thyroid gland occurred with a positive trend in male mice (0/50, 0/49, 1/50, 5/50). Theincidence in the high-dose group was significantly greater than that in the controls. This chemical-related effect is supported by the increased incidence of follicular cell hyperplasia. Because the incidence of this tumor exceeded the range of the historical controls from NTP feed studies (0%-4%), the increase of follicular cell adenoma was attributed to chemical administration. Female mice receiving C.I. Pigment Red 3 had a significant increase in follicular cell hyperplasia but showed no increase in tumor incidence at this site. Focal renal tubule hyperplasia and cystic hyperplasia occurred in exposed male mice but not in the controls. Cytomegaly (karyomegaly) of the renal tubule epithelium was seen in all treated male mice. The severity of the accompanying chronic nephropathy was increased in both male and female mice. Genetic Toxicology: C.I. Pigment Red 3 was mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100 and TA98 in the presence of exogenous metabolic activation (S9); no increases in gene mutation were observed in strains TA1535 and TA1537, with or without S9. C.I. Pigment Red 3 did not induce sister chromatid exchanges or chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells in either the presence or the absence of S9. Conclusions: Under the conditions of these 2-year feed studies, there was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of C.I. Pigment Red 3 in male F344/N rats as exhibited by increased incidences of benign pheochromocytomas of the adrenal gland. The marginal increase in the incidences of squamous cell papillomas of the skin and Zymbal's gland carcinomas may have been related to C.I. Pigment Red 3 administration. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of C.I. Pigment Red 3 in female F344/N rats as indicated by the increased incidence of hepatocellular adenomas. There was some evidence of carcinogenic activity of C.I. Pigment Red 3 in male B6C3F1 mice as exhibited by the increased incidences of tubule adenomas of the renal cortex and follicular cell adenomas of the thyroid gland. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of C.I. Pigment Red 3 in female B6C3F1 mice that received 12,500, 25,000, or 50,000 ppm. The incidences of mononuclear cell leukemia and preputial gland tumors in male rats and mononuclear cell leukemia, mammary gland fibroadenoma, and clitoral gland tumors in female rats were lower in the exposed groups. The incidences of liver foci were markedly increased in exposed male and female rats. The severity of chronic nephropathy was increased in male rats and to a lesser extent in female rats given C.I. Pigment Red 3. An increase in the severity of nephropathy was observed in male and female mice; cytomegaly (karyomegaly) of renal tubule epithelium was observed in male mice. Thyroid follicular cell hyperplasia occurred with an increased incidence in male and female mice receiving C.I. Pigment Red 3. Synonyms: 2-Naphthalenol, 1-((4-methyl-2-nitrophenyl)azo)-; Calcotone Toluidine Red YP; Fast Red A; Pigment Scarlet R; Recolite Fast Red RBL; Sengale Light Red B
Duerre, John A. (University of North Dakota, Grand Forks), and Patrick J. Buckley. Pigment production from tryptophan by an Achromobacter species. J. Bacteriol. 90:1686-1691. 1965.-A microorganism was isolated from the soil near the University of North Dakota. Biochemical and morphological characteristics indicated that this organism would best be classified as a member of the family Achromobacteraceae, genus Achromobacter, species unknown. The organism produced a red pigment when grown in a medium containing yeast extract and tryptophan. The pH optimum for pigment production was about 8.0 and the optimal temperature was 25 C. During a study of the nutritional requirements for growth and pigment production, it was found that the organism would grow and produce pigment in a medium containing tryptophan and nucleosides, but the rate of both growth and pigment formation in this medium was slower than that observed with tryptophan and yeast extract. The organism grew well in the presence of acid-hydrolyzed casein and nucleosides without producing pigment, indicating that the pigment is not necessary for growth. Resting-cell experiments definitely established tryptophan as the sole exogenous requirement for pigment production. The pigment was extracted from yeast extract-tryptophan medium with chloroform. Thin layer chromatographic analysis of the crude pigment extracted from this medium revealed the presence of two other pigments in addition to the major red pigment. One of these was a highly fluorescent orange pigment and the other a pink pigment. Only the red pigment was produced by resting cells in the presence of tryptophan alone. This pigment served as an electron acceptor when coupled with formic dehydrogenase, indicating its possible function as an oxidation-reduction pigment. The oxidized pigment had absorption peaks at 506 and 304 mmu. The peak at 506 mmu disappeared upon reduction with sodium sulfite. Shaking the reduced pigment in air proved to be an unsatisfactory method for returning the reduced pigment to the oxidized, colored state.
C.I. Pigment Red 23 is a bluish red commercial dye used as a coloring agent in paints, inks, rubber, plastics, lacquers, and paper. Toxicology and carcinogenicity studies were conducted by feeding groups of rats and mice diets containing C.I. Pigment Red 23 (greater than 96% pure) for 17 days, 13 weeks, and 2 years. Genetic toxicology studies were conducted in Salmonella typhimurium and in Chinese hamster ovary cells. 17-Day Studies: Groups of five rats and five mice of each sex were fed diets containing 0, 6,000, 12,500, 25,000, 50,000, or 100,000 ppm C.I. Pigment Red 23 for 15 to 17 days. All rats and all female mice lived until the end of the studies. Two male mice in the 12,500 ppm dose group died accidentally. No other deaths occurred among male mice. Final mean body weights of rats and mice receiving C.I. Pigment Red 23 were within 10% of those of the controls. Feed consumption by exposed animals was similar to that of the controls. Hematocrit value, hemoglobin concentration, and erythrocyte count were decreased in the 50,000 and 100,000 ppm groups of rats. A corresponding decrease was not seen in mice. Absolute and relative organ weights of exposed animals were generally similar to those of the controls. No chemical-related gross lesions were seen in rats or mice. 13-Week Studies: Groups of 10 rats and 10 mice of each sex were fed diets containing 0, 3,000, 6,000, 12,500, 25,000, or 50,000 ppm C.I. Pigment Red 23 for 13 weeks. All rats and mice lived until the end of the studies. Final mean body weights of rats and mice receiving C.I. Pigment Red 23 were within 10% of those of the controls. Feed consumption by exposed animals was similar to that of the controls. In 50,000 ppm male rats, hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations and erythrocyte counts were significantly less than those of the controls. In female rats receiving 3,000, 6,000 and 50,000 ppm C.I. Pigment Red 23, lymphocyte counts were significantly higher than the control values. Leukocyte counts in 3,000 ppm females were also significantly increased. Female mice in the 6,000 ppm dose group had significantly lower hematocrit and hemoglobin concentrations than did untreated females. Hematology parameters in exposed males were similar to those of untreated males. There were no biologically significant differences in organ weights among dosed and control rats. Absolute and relative liver weights of male mice receiving 12,500 ppm C.I. Pigment Red 23 were significantly increased compared to those of the controls. Absolute and relative thymus weights for all but 12,500 ppm female mice were significantly lower than those of the controls. No chemical-related gross or histopathologic lesions occurred in rats or mice. 2-Year Studies: Survival, Body Weights, Feed Consumption, and Clinical Findings Because levels of C.I. Pigment Red 23 as high as 50,000 or 100,000 ppm in the feed did not adversely affect survival and mean body weights in the 17-day and 13-week studies, nor cause any chemical- related lesions, doses of 0, 10,000, 25,000, or 50,000 ppm were selected for the 2-year studies. Doses higher than 50,000 ppm (5%) are not used in 2-year studies because they may lead to excessive dilution of nutrients in feed which in turn could produce nutritional deficiencies. Survival rates of mid- and high-dose male and of high-dose female rats were significantly greater than those of the controls, due primarily to a chemical related decreased incidence of mononuclear cell leukemia in these groups (survival in male rats: control, 22/50, low-dose, 29/50, mid-dose, 36/50, high-dose, 35/51; female rats: 29/50, 34/50, 33/50, 40/50). Survival of mice was not affected by the administration of C.I. Pigment Red 23, although survival of low-dose male mice was significantly lower than that of controls (male mice: 29/51, 17/53, 27/52, 30/51; female mice: 35/50, 34/49, 36/50, 35/49). The decreased survival in the low- dose males was associated with evidence of body trauma and secondary septicemia caused by fighting. From approximately week 20 of the study, the group mean body weight, the group mean body weights of exposed female rats were consistently lower than those of controls; at week 101, mean body weights of mid- dose (25,000 ppm) and high-dose (50,000 ppm) females were 6% and 8% less, respectively. The final mean body weights of exposed male rats and male and female mice were similar to those of controls. Feed consumption values for exposed male and female rats and mice were similar to those of the controls and there were no clinical signs associated with the administration of C.I. Pigment Red 23. Pathology Findings: Renal tubule adenomas occurred in two high- dose male rats. Renal tubule carcinomas occurred in one high-dose male and one mid-dose male rat. No renal tubule neoplasms were seen in the controls. Renal tubule neoplasms are uncommon and have occurred in 8/499 (1.6%) untreated historical controls with a range of 0% to 6%. The residual halves of kidneys from control and high-dose males were step sectioned and examined; renal tubule adenomas were observed in a control male and in two additional high- dose males. Because of the low numbers of renal neoplasms, it is uncertain if they were related to chemical administration. The incidence of renal tubule hyperplasia (3/50, 6/48, 5/50, 8/50) and the mean severity of nephropathy were also slightly increased in high-dose male rats. The incidence of mononuclear cell leukemia occurred with a significant negative trend in exposed male and female rats. No chemical-related increases in the incidence of neoplasms were observed in mice of either sex. There was a chemical-related increase in the incidence of hyperplasia (male mice: 0/49, 1/48, 1/50, 7/48; female mice: 6/49, 14/49, 43/50, 47/49) and hyperkeratosis of the forestomach epithelium attributed to chemical administration. Genetic Toxicology: C.I. Pigment Red 23 was mutagenic in Salmonella typhimurium strains TA100, TA1537, and TA98 with and without exogenous metabolic activation (S9), but it was not mutagenic in strain TA1535. C.I. Pigment Red 23 induced sister chromatid exchanges in Chinese hamster ovary cells in the absence of S9, but not with S9 activation. The pigment was negative for the induction of chromosomal aberrations in Chinese hamster ovary cells both in the presence and absence of S9. Conclusions: Under the conditions of these 2-year feed studies, there was equivocal evidence of carcinogenic activity of C.I. Pigment Red 23 in male F344 rats as evidenced by a marginally increased incidence of renal tubule cell neoplasms. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of C.I. Pigment Red 23 in female F344 rats fed diets containing 10,000, 25,000, or 50,000 ppm. Mononuclear cell leukemia occurred with a decreased incidence in male and female rats receiving C.I. Pigment Red 23. There was no evidence of carcinogenic activity of C.I. Pigment Red 23 in male and female B6C3F1 mice fed diets containing 10,000, 25,000 or 50,000 ppm. The severity of kidney nephropathy was increased in exposed male rats. In mice, C.I. Pigment Red 23 caused an increase in hyperkeratosis and epithelial hyperplasia of the fore- stomach. Synonyms: 2-Naphthalenecarboxamide; 3-hydroxy-4-((2-methoxy-5- nitrophenyl)azo)-N-(3- nitrophenyl); 3-hydroxy-4-((2-methoxy-5- nitrophenyl)azo)-3 -2-naphthanilide; Alkali Resistant Red Dark; Calcotone Red 3B; Carnation Red Toner B; CI 12355; Congo Red R- 138; Fenalac Red FKB Extra; Malta Red X2284; Naphthol Red B; Naphthol Red T Toner 35- 6001; Naphthol Red Deep 10459; Pigment Red BH; Rubescence Red MT-21; Sanyo Fast Red 10B; Sapona Red Lake RL-6280; Sengale Light Rubin RG; Textile Red WD-263
PURPOSE: This study was designed to determine the effect of opacifiers used at different ratios on the color stability of pigmented A-2186 silicone maxillofacial elastomers and to evaluate the color spectrophotometrically before and after artificial aging. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty experimental groups of elastomers were made using various concentrations (5%, 10%, and 15%) of 4 opacifiers (Georgia kaolin powder neutral, kaolin powder calcined, Artskin white, and dry pigment titanium white) with 1 of 5 dry earth cosmetic pigment groups (no pigment [control], red, yellow ochre, burnt sienna, and a mixture of all pigments). Five specimens of each elastomer were tested, for a total of 300 specimens. All specimens were placed in an aging chamber and artificially aged by exposure to light, water spray, fluctuating temperatures, and humidity. CIE L*a*b* values were measured by spectrophotometer. The color differences (Delta E*) at various exposure energies (150, 300, and 450 kJ/m(2)) were subjected to 4-way analysis of variance with repeated measures (super ANOVA). Mean values were compared with Tukey-Kramer intervals calculated at the 0.05 significance level. RESULTS: The trained human eye can detect color changes (Delta E*) greater than 1.0. Adding all pigments to any of the kaolin groups did not protect silicone A-2186 from color degradation over time. Mixing red pigment in all groups at all times drastically increased DeltaE* values ranging from 0.1 to 1.3 up to 16.6 to 49.6. Yellow ochre had an effect only with 10% and 15% concentrations of kaolin powder calcined, increasing the value of Delta E* to greater than 1.0. Burnt sienna had an effect only with a 15% concentration of kaolin powder calcined, increasing the value of Delta E* at 300 and 450 kJ/m(2) to greater than 11.0. At the 5% concentration, kaolin powder calcined had the smallest color changes, followed by, in order, dry pigment titanium white, Artskin white, and Georgia kaolin. At the 10% concentration, Artskin white had the smallest color changes, followed by, in order, dry pigment titanium white, kaolin powder calcined, and Georgia kaolin. At the 15% concentration, Artskin white again had the smallest color changes, followed by, in order, dry pigment titanium white, Georgia kaolin, and the kaolin powder calcined. The smallest color changes in each kaolin group were at the 10% concentration for Artskin white, dry pigment titanium white, and kaolin powder calcined and at the 5% concentration for Georgia kaolin. CONCLUSIONS: Mixing dry earth cosmetic pigments with opacifiers did not protect silicone A-2186 from color degradation over time, especially in the case of red pigment. The group in which pigments were mixed with 10% Artskin white had the smallest color changes over time, followed by, in order, the groups in which pigments were mixed with 10% dry pigment titanium white, 10% kaolin powder calcined, and 5% Georgia kaolin. Red pigment had a significant effect on all opacifiers, especially Georgia kaolin and kaolin powder calcined. Yellow ochre and burnt sienna had an effect only on 15% kaolin powder calcined. Among all the pigment groups tested, yellow ochre remained the most color stable over time.
This study addresses the clinical problem of long-term discolouration of silicone hand and maxillofacial prostheses. Seven (7) pigment hues, considered essential for achieving a suitable tissue colour-matched prosthesis, were compared for their colourfast property, across three selected proprietary formulations. In all, a series of 21 pigments, were tested for colourfastness. The pigments, presenting as suspensions (PS), pastes (PP) and dry pigments (PD), were exposed, over nine months, to ultraviolet light, elevated temperatures and varying concentrations of salinity. Colour change of the pigments was measured and expressed as Commission International de l'Eclairage (CIE) (L*, a*, b*) units. Pigment discoloration was significantly attributed to ultraviolet light. Pigmented and clear silicone samples showed a "yellowing" (+delta b*) effect. Lighter pigments became darker (-delta L*) in shade. Pigment samples at the elevated temperature of 50 degrees C showed significant but small colour change (delta E, 0.77 to 3.63). Only the master blue pigment (PS-4) recorded a higher delta E, 6.26 at 50 degrees C. At a moderate temperature of 35 degrees C, both pigmented and clear silicone test samples remained relatively colourfast. Comparison was made to control samples, stored in darkness, at 26 degrees C. The pigments were generally colourfast (deltaE<6 units) to saline solutions of 0.15 M and 5.0 M concentrations. Only the monastral red (PD-3) pigment recorded a delta E of 9.33, in 0.15 M normal saline, simulating the vulnerability of this pigment to the salinity of human sweat. Pigment hues were systematically ranked according to colourfastness. Pigment suspensions were more colourfast than pigment pastes.
PURPOSE: Salamander retinas are known to contain at least three cone pigments and two rod pigments. The purpose of this study was to clone and characterize the visual pigments from salamander cones. METHODS: cDNA fragments of cone pigments were amplified from a salamander retina cDNA library by PCR using a pair of primers with consensus for visual pigments. These fragments were cloned and used as probes for library-screening. The full-length cDNAs were isolated from the retinal library using the cloned PCR products as probes. DNA sequences were determined by the dideoxynucleotide chain termination method. RESULTS: Two pigment cDNAs were cloned and sequenced from the salamander library. The global GenBank search showed that they do not match any existing sequences but have significant sequence similarity to visual pigments. One of the pigment cDNAs showed a high sequence homology with red cone pigments from other species and thus, was designated as a red cone opsin. The other pigment was designated as a blue cone opsin as it is most homologous to the chicken and goldfish blue cone pigments. Both cDNAs contain a full-length coding region encoding 365 amino acids in the red and 363 amino acids in the blue cone pigment. Hydropathy analysis predicted that both pigments could form seven hydrophobic transmembrane helices. Both pigments retain the key amino acid residues critical for maintaining the structure and function of opsins and have similar G-protein interaction sequences which differ from that of rod opsin. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that the red opsin belongs to the L group and the blue opsin belongs to the M1 group of visual pigments. CONCLUSIONS: The salamander red and blue cone pigments share high sequence homology with the cone pigments of other species.
PURPOSE: Research shows wide variation in macular pigment density between individuals. As are other ocular pigments, this variation may be genetic. To test this hypothesis, the authors measured macular pigment density, serum carotenoid concentrations, and general dietary patterns in 10 pairs of identical twins. METHODS: Macular pigment was measured psychophysically by a 1 degree test stimulus. Foveal and parafoveal sensitivities to 460-nm and 530-nm light were compared. Determining the difference in log sensitivity to the 460-nm light for the fovea (where macular pigment is most dense) and the parafovea (where macular pigment is optically immeasurable), after normalizing with respect to 530 nm, yields a measurement of the optical density of macular pigment. Concentrations of carotenoids within the serum were measured using reverse-phase, high-performance liquid chromatography. Dietary patterns were determined using a food-frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: Statistically significant differences in macular pigment optical density were found for 5 of the 10 twin pairs. For these five pairs, differences in macular pigment density were moderately related to differences in the intake of dietary fat, iron, linoleic and oleic acid, fiber, and total calories (P < 0.10, individually; P < 0.05, for an equally weighted composite of these variables). There was no significant relationship, however, found between macular pigment density and carotenoids in the blood and diet. CONCLUSIONS: Given the putative protective role of macular pigment, variations in macular pigment density may have clinical significance. The conclusion that macular pigment is not completely determined genetically allows the possibility that macular pigment density may be modified for the protective purposes. The current data suggest that dietary fat, iron, and fiber may influence macular pigment levels (perhaps through their influence on carotenoid metabolism). These data suggest that the eventual deposition of macular pigment in the retina is complex and probably is influenced by a number of variables.