Abstract
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most widely spread food additives that might cause male infertility. However, Nigellasativa L. seeds (NSS) could provide a solution. This study was designed to investigate the potential effects of NSS on rats ingesting MSG. To achieve this aim, adult male albino rats were randomly equally assigned into three groups for 21 days: control group received no treatment, MSG group received MSG as 30 g/kg feed, and MSG + NSS group received MSG as 30 g/kg and NSS as 30 g/kg feed. Testis histomorphometry showed marked deterioration by MSG as atrophic seminiferous tubules with degeneration of their lining cells, damaged Leydig cells and decreased germ cells number. Periodic Acid Schiff stain indicated irregular interrupted basement membranes. Glutathione reductase, superoxide dismutase 2 (SOD2), and caspase-3 immuno-expressions increased in testicular cells. Testosterone levels were significantly decreased in MSG challenged rats along with significant increase in luteinizing hormone levels, whereas NSS normalized this hormonal profile. MSG exposure also caused significantly increased lipid peroxides (LPO), glutathione-S-transferase, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) whereas nitric oxide and SOD2 were significantly decreased. NSS succeeded in rebalance LPO and TAC and ameliorated the histoarchitectural disturbances. NSS mitigated MSG-induced testicular impairment by its antioxidant and cytoprotective activities.
Highlights
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most widely spread food additives that might cause male infertility
The exposure to MSG was responsible for induction of oxidative stress status evident by a significant increase in lipid peroxides (LPO), GST and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and a significant decrease in Nitric oxide (NO) and Superoxide dismutase (SOD)
Dietary supplementation of Nigella sativa L. seeds (NSS) to MSG intoxicated rats succeeded in rebalance some aspects of oxidant/antioxidant profile such as LPO and TAC without causing any significant change in NO, SOD and GST when compared with the MSG group
Summary
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is one of the most widely spread food additives that might cause male infertility. Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a derivative sodium salt of glutamic acid, is widely consumed as a seasoning and flavoring agent to improve the taste, quality and shelf-life of food products[1] It is commonly marketed as a safe feed additive without a specific daily intake limit. Several biological systems are sensitive to the high doses of MSG; the reproductive system is considered to be its primary target This is owing to abundance of glutamate r eceptors[7] and polyunsaturated fatty acids and low content of antioxidant reserve[8] in seminiferous tubules (ST) and spermatozoa, making them more susceptible to its peroxidative and excitatory damage. Literature is punctuated with several evidence indicating the testicular protective properties of Nigella sativa L. seeds (NSS) in pesticides, chemotherapies and heavy metals challenged and diabetic rat models. Lack of scientific articles in the literature exploring the potential protective effects of NSS on MSG-associated testicular dysfunctions adds fuels to our study to investigate this issue
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