Effects Of Monosodium Glutamate On Hippocampus Development In Albino Rats And Pregnant Mothers

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a sodium salt derivative of a natural amino acid called glutamic. The use of monosodium glutamate is very controversial in recent years. The aim of this study was to investigate the MSG administration effects on the hippocampus development in the prenatal and postnatal periods as well as its neurotoxic effects on a pregnant mother hippocampus. Sixty pregnant albino rats were used in this study and were divided into 3 equal groups: Group I, control group, Group II, pregnant mothers treated with MSG in a dose of 830 mg/Kg body weight per day orally from gestation day 0 to 19th, they were sacrificed at gestation day 20 for prenatal histological examination of fetuses brains. Group III, pregnant animals were treated with oral MSG 830 mg/Kg body weight, from the gestation day 0 and they were allowed to deliver their neonates. The mothers were maintained at the same dose of MSG orally for three weeks after delivery and their neonates were kept on breast feeding up to the age of weaning. At weaning, all neonates (males and females) of the treated mothers were sacrificed and sections of brain were stained with hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) for examination. Immunohistochemical detection of Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and caspase-3 were detected in the brain sections of the fetuses of the group (II), neonates of the group (III) and treated mothers for evaluation of the effects of MSG intake on the hippocampus of the fetuses, the neonates and the mothers. Examination of brain sections from fetuses of (group II) treated mothers with MSG showed an alterations in the brain development compared to the fetuses of the control group (group I). Examination of the brain sections from neonates of (Group III) treated mothers with MSG as compared to the neonates of the control group (group I) revealed gliosis formed by glial cell proliferation and degenerated nerve cells. Multicystic encephalomalacia and cellular neurodegenerative changes in the hippocampus of the pregnant mothers were also observed. The statistical analysis of area percent of the GFAP and the caspase-3 immunoexpression in the brain sections of the fetuses of the group (II) and theneonates of the group (III) MSG- treated animals showed a significant increase as compared with the control group (I). Also, MSG- treated mothers showed a significant increase of the area percent of GFAP and caspase-3 immunoexpression compared with the control mothers group. Maternal administration of MSG during pregnancy and lactation has potent neurotoxic effects on brain development of the fetuses and eonates. Therefore, MSG intake should be avoided in the pregnancy and lactating periods because the hippocampus of the developing neonates and fetuses were affected by MSG.