The effects of neonatally administered monosodium glutamate on the reproductive system of adult hamsters

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.