Abstract
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a commonly used food additive. Scientists have found that MSG has toxic effects in several tissues and organs like neurons, liver, testes, ovary, kidneys etc due to oxidative stress both after exposure in neonatal period as well as in adult animal models. Although various reports have suggested that MSG has damaging effect in kidneys only few histological studies are available. This study was done to observe any histological changes in kidneys of albino mice after neonatal exposure with MSG. Study showed significant changes in weight and volume of kidneys in gross morphology. Increased urinary space and dilatation of proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) and distal convoluted tubules (DCT) were constant finding in experimental animals. There were loss of luminal microvilli and reduced height of lining cells of both PCT and DCT.
Highlights
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a commonly used food additive since ancient time
Both vascular pole and macula densa adjoining distal convoluted tubules (DCT) could be seen lined by tall cuboidal cells with irregular margin possibly due to presence of microvilli; the lumen of different tubules of proximal convoluted tubules (PCT) were very narrow lined by tall cells (Fig 1)
Emerging evidence suggest that MSG had been implicated as toxic to various organs including kidneys.[2,13]
Summary
Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) is a commonly used food additive since ancient time. Its taste sensation is called savoury[1] MSG is an essential amino acid present in many of our food and food products. Animal studies demonstrated neonatal MSG consumption caused obesity along with Insulin resistance and reduced glucose tolerance in later life of rodents.[4] In a placebo control study using MSG dose ranging from 57 – 150 mg/kg was resulted in muscle pain and change in mechanical sensitivity in human.[5] Scientists have reported high dose of MSG 75 gms per kg in human elevates systolic blood pressure.[6] Both animal model and human studies have shown that use of MSG had toxic effects on reproductive system It causes distinguishable necrotic changes in the endometrial and myometiral layers of uterus.[7] Administration of MSG at a dose of 2 mg/gm of body weight during various perinatal period of life leads to reduction in sperm count, reduced serum testosterone level in addition to atrophied seminiferous tubules in adult male rats compared to control animals.[8] Scientist claimed that the degenerative process is due to enhanced oxidative stress and increased lipid peroxidation in cell.[8] MSG induces kidney damage from oxidative stress and decrease elimination of free radicals in cells.[7]
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