This study investigated the effects of administration of monosodium Lglutamate (MSG) on serum gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH), luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone and total cholesterol (TC), cauda epididymal sperm reserves (CESR) and testicular histomorphology of adult male albino rats. Eighty-four rats, randomly assigned to 7 groups of 12 rats each, were used for the study. Varying low doses (0.25, 0.50 or 1.00 g/kg body weight) of MSG were administered orally or subcutaneously at 48-h intervals for six weeks. Serum GnRH, LH, testosterone and TC, and CESR were evaluated on days 14, 28 and 42 of MSG administration. Testicular histomorphology was evaluated on day 42. The results showed that the mean serum GnRH, LH and testosterone levels, and the CESR of all the treated groups were significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the untreated control on days 14, 28 and 42 of MSG administration. The mean serum TC levels of all the treated groups were also significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those of the control group on days 14 and 28. No lesions were observed on sections of the testes. It was concluded that MSG administration for 14, 28 and 42 days led to significantly lower serum levels of GnRH, LH, testosterone and TC, and significantly lower CESR.

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

ABSTRACT:In this study the effects of monosodium l-glutamate (MSG) administration on the reproductive parameters and serum biochemistry of male rabbits were investigated. Sixteen mature male New Zealand mixed-breed of rabbits (Oryctolagus species) weighing 1.1-1.65 kg were used for this study. They were randomised into four groups of four rabbits each. Group A which served as the untreated control, received only distilled water while Groups B, C and D which were the treated groups, received 0.25 g/kg, 0.5 g/kg and 1 g/kg body weight of MSG from a 40% MSG stock solution. The MSG was administered to the rabbits by oral gavage every forty-eight hours for a period of eight weeks. Serum levels of luteinising hormone (LH), testosterone, total cholesterol and total protein, and activities of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) were evaluated on Days 14, 28 and 56 of MSG administration. Results showed that when compared to the untreated group (Group A), on Day 56 of MSG administration the mean serum levels of both LH and testosterone were significantly (P < 0.05) lower in Group D that received 1 g/kg body weight MSG, while the serum cholesterol levels of Group C rabbits that received 0.5 g/kg body weight MSG was significantly (P < 0.05) lower on Day 28 of MSG administration. The mean serum ALT activity of Groups B and C rabbits were significantly (P < 0.05) lower on Day 56 of MSG administration, while the mean serum AST activity of the Group D rabbits was significantly (P < 0.05) higher on Day 14 of MSG administration. There were no significant (P > 0.05) variations in the mean serum total protein between the groups. Testicular histomorphology revealed that MSG administration did not affect the testes of the rabbits as there was no obvious testicular histopathology. It was concluded that administration of MSG to male rabbits significantly lowered serum LH, testosterone and cholesterol levels and serum ALT activity without affecting testicular histomorphology.