The Effects of Neonatally-Administered Monosodium Glutamate on the Reproductive System of Adult Hamsters1

Abstract

Saline or 4 or 8 mg MSG/gm was administered to hamsters on Days 1-5, 6-10, and 1-10 neonatally. When sacrificed on Day 60, MSG-treated animals had reproductive organ weights significantly lower than control values. Lesions in the arcuate nucleus were detectable only in hamsters which received 8 mg MSG/gm on Days 6-10 or 1-10. Female hamsters were acyclic and had ovaries with small follicles and with no corpora lutea. Administration of 50 IU PMS to these animals caused follicular maturation; ovulation occurred only after administration of 10 IU HCG. Male hamsters had atrophic seminiferous tubules and minimal activity of Δ5-3β-steroid dehydrogenase in the interstitial cells. The histology of the seminiferous tubules and the activity of Δ5-3β-steroid dehydrogenase approached control levels when 200 IU HCG/day was administered for 7 days. The evidence suggests that MSG affects the hypothalamic center controlling pituitary FSH and LH release when administered on Days 6-10 or 1-10 of the neonatal period.