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Monosodium L-glutamate-induced convulsions: temporary alteration in blood-brain barrier permeability to plasma

C B Nemeroff, F D Crisley

    Environmental Physiology & Biochemistry
    |January 1, 1975
    PubMed

    Insights

    Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) causes seizures and increased brain vascular permeability in young rats. These effects, including dye entering brain tissue, diminish with age, disappearing by 42 days.

    Area of Science:

    • Neuroscience
    • Toxicology
    • Biochemistry

    Background:

    • Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) is a widely used food additive.
    • MSG administration can induce neurological effects, including seizures, particularly in neonatal animals.
    • Previous studies suggest potential neurotoxic effects of MSG.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the effects of MSG on cerebrovascular permeability and seizure activity in rats.
    • To determine the age-dependency of MSG-induced neurological and vascular changes.
    • To examine the correlation between seizure activity and specific brain lesions.

    Main Methods:

    • Intraperitoneal administration of MSG (4.0 g/kg) to neonatal rats.
    • Observation of seizure incidence and severity.
    • Assessment of cerebrovascular permeability using trypan blue dye.
    • Histological examination of brain tissue.

    Main Results:

    • MSG induced dose-dependent convulsions and reversible increases in cerebrovascular permeability in neonatal rats.
    • Trypan blue dye penetrated brain tissue during MSG-induced seizures, indicating compromised blood-brain barrier.
    • Seizure incidence and dye penetration decreased significantly with increasing age, absent by 42 days.
    • Seizure activity was not correlated with periventricular-arcuate area lesions or hypothalamic damage.

    Conclusions:

    • MSG-induced seizures and altered cerebrovascular permeability are age-dependent phenomena in rats.
    • The blood-brain barrier integrity is compromised during acute MSG intoxication in young rats.
    • MSG does not appear to cause the characteristic hypothalamic lesions in older rats, suggesting a developmental window for this toxicity.

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