Elevated Plus Maze and Y-Maze Behavioral Effects of Subchronic, Oral Low Dose Monosodium Glutamate in Swiss Albino Mice

Abstract

Effects of subchronic oral low dose monosodium glutamate (MSG) on neurobehavior were assessed using the Y and Elevated plus mazes in mice. Forty adult Swiss albino mice weighing between 20-25 g were assigned into four groups A, B, C and D. Group A served as control and received normal saline, groups B, C and D received MSG dissolved in normal saline orally at 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 mg/kg dose. MSG or vehicle was administered for a period of 14 days, following which animals were exposed to the elevated plus maze (EPM) and the Y-maze. The numbers of entries and percentage time spent in the open and closed arms after 5mins exposure to the plus maze and Y–maze spontaneous alternations over a five minute period was scored for each animal as a measure of spatial memory. Result were analysed by one way ANOVA followed by a posthoc test, results were expressed as mean ±S.E.M. Elevated plus maze performance showed a significant decrease in the number of entries and time spent in the open arm and an increase in the total number of arm entries compared to control, Y-maze task performance showed no significant improvement in the MSG groups compared to control. The study concluded that subchronic MSG at the doses administered was anxiogenic but had only a slight retardant effect on spatial working memory.