A histological study on the effect of prenatal and postnataladministration of monosodium glutamate on the developingrenal cortex of male albino rats

BackgroundMonosodium glutamate (MSG) is a widely used flavour enhancer. Its use in highconcentration could affect vital functions, including those of the kidney.Aim of workThe present study is concerned with evaluation of the effect of prenatal andpostnatal MSG administration on the developing male albino rat renal cortex.Materials and methodsTwenty pregnant female albino rats were divided into two equal groups: groupI (control) and group II (treated). In group II, MSG was administered orally at adose of 2 mg/kg/day from the 12th day of gestation until the 21st day postnatally.After delivery, the offspring of both groups were sacrificed at the newborn stage,at 3 weeks and at 3 months. Kidney specimens were processed for examination bylight and scanning electron microscopy.ResultsMaternal MSG administration affected both the renal glomeruli and tubules of theoffspring. In the newborn stage, the glomeruli at the subcapsular zone appearedimmature and crowded. The foot processes showed apparent elongation anddisruption of their interdigitations. In weaned rats, apparent widening of Bowman’sspace in some glomeruli, detachment of podocytes and effacement of foot processeswere noticed. In adult rats, the glomeruli showed hypercellularity with apparentelongation and fusion of the foot processes. The renal tubules at the different agesstudied showed degenerative changes with sloughs inside the lumen of some tubulesaccompanied by proliferative changes. The proximal tubules showed partial loss ofthe brush border.ConclusionMSG causes a delay in the development of glomeruli. Some glomeruli showedhypercellularity with affection of podocytes, which makes the glomeruli liable toglomerulosclerosis.