Uptake of glutamate in beagle dogs after oral gavage with MSG

Abstract

A number of studies were performed in Beagle dogs to assess the clinical, biochemical and histological effects of administering monosodium glutamate (MSG) by oral gavage. Serum glutamate levels were markedly raised irrespective of the dose administered. Vomiting consistently occurred at the time of the serum glutamate peak. There was no difference between control and MSG-treated dogs with regard to glutamate concentration in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) or brain tissue taken from the region of the third ventricle. MSG did not accumulate in the liver, kidney, duodenum or intestinal fluid of dosed dogs. At the time of peak glutamate concentration there was a relative drop in serum potassium concentration, with a subsequent increase in sodium concentration.