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Neonatal influence of monosodium glutamate on the somatometric parameters of rats
Milan Cirić1, Stevo Najman, Vladmila Bojanić
1Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Nis, Serbia.
Insights
Neonatal exposure to monosodium glutamate (MSG) altered growth in Wistar rats. MSG-treated male rats showed increased body mass, while both sexes experienced reduced bone and testicular development, with females exhibiting more significant somatometric reductions.
Area of Science:
- Endocrinology
- Developmental Biology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Glutamate receptors are present in bone and adipose cells.
- Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a common food additive.
- Neonatal exposure effects on development are a key research area.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of neonatal monosodium glutamate (MSG) administration on growth and somatometric parameters in Wistar rats.
- To assess the "programming" effects of MSG on body mass, bone length, and reproductive organ development.
Main Methods:
- Wistar rats received daily subcutaneous injections of MSG or saline (control) during the first 10 postnatal days.
- Body mass, naso-anal length, and tail length were measured bi-weekly for 14 weeks.
- Femur, tibia, and testicular masses and lengths were measured post-mortem.
Main Results:
- MSG-treated male rats exhibited increased final body mass compared to controls.
- MSG-treated rats showed reduced relative bone length, body length, and tail length.
- A significant reduction in relative and absolute testicular mass was observed in MSG-treated rats.
- Female MSG-treated rats displayed significant reductions in somatometric parameters during sexual maturation.
Conclusions:
- Neonatal MSG exposure can lead to altered growth trajectories and somatometric programming in Wistar rats.
- The effects of MSG vary between sexes, with females showing more pronounced reductions in growth parameters.
- Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms underlying MSG's developmental programming effects.
Abstract:
The glutamate receptors are expressed in various cell types including bone and adipose cells. The effects of neonatal administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the "programming" of somatometric parameters in Wistar rats during the period up to 14th week of life were estimated. The rats were treated subcutaneously with five doses of 4 mg/g MSG (10 microl/g body mass) during the first 10 postnatal days (group M). The control (group C) was treated in the same manner with normal saline solution. During three months, body mass, naso-anal length and tail length were measured in 14 days intervals, while femoral and tibial masses and lengths, and testicular mass were measured following sacrificing. The body mass at the end of this period in the M group of males was higher than the body mass in the group C. Reduction in relative bone length, body and tail lengths and the relative as well as absolute testicular mass were registered in MSG-treated rats. A significant reduction in somatometric parameters was registered only in female MSG-treated rats during period of sexual maturation compared to controls.
