Abstract:

Objective   To explore the effects of different concentrations of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the metabolism and islet cell apoptosis in rats. Methods   Forty Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups: the control group, the MSG normal dose group, the MSG four times  dose group and the MSG eight times dose group, each with 10 rats respectively. The rats in the control group and other three groups were administered intragastrically with normal saline and homemade MSG solution, respectively. Fasting glucose, triglycerinate and total cholesterol were examined each week from the aft venous blood and the carotid arterial blood was collected to test fasting glucose，insulin, triglycerinate and total cholesterol at week 33. Results   There was no statistical difference in fasting glucose among the four groups (P>0.05). However, compared with the other three groups, the MSG eight times dose group had higher levels of insulin, triglycerinate and total cholesterol, and the difference had statistical significance (P＜0.05). The insulin resistance was also shown in that group (P<0.05). In the MSG groups, all doses of MSG caused the morphological changes of islet cells, and with the increasing of MSG, the apoptotic rates of islet cell also increased. But only the difference between the MSG eight times group and the other three groups had statistical significance (P<0.05).  Conclusion   High dose of MSG could cause metabolic disorders and impair the function of islet. Hyperglycemia would occur if the islet was decompensated.

Key words: Monosodium glutamate; Glucose; Insulin; Diabetes