Histological studies of the effects of monosodium glutamate on the ovaries of adult Wistar rats

Abstract

The effect of monosodium glutamate (MSG) used as food additive on the ovaries of adult Wistar rat was investigated. Both adult male and female Wistar rats (n=24) of average weight of 185g were randomly assigned into three groups A, B and C of (n-8) in each group. The treatment groups (A and B) were given 3g and 6g of MSG thoroughly mixed with the grower’s marsh, respectively on a daily basis. The control group © received equal amount of feeds (Grower’s march) without MSG added for fourteen days. The grower’s mash was obtained from Edo Feeds and Flour Mill Ltd, Ewu,EdoStateand the rats were given water liberally. The rats were sacrificed on day fifteen of the experiment. The ovaries were carefully dissected out and quickly fixed in 10% formal saline for routine histological procedures. The histological findings in the treated groups showed evidence of cellular hypertrophy, degenerative and atrophic changes with the group that received 6g of MSG more severe. These findings indicate that MSG may have some deleterious effects on the Oocytes of the ovaries of adult Wistar rats at higher doses and by extension may contribute to the causes of female infertility. It is recommended that further studies aimed at corroborating these findings be carried out.