Effect of monosodium glutamate treatment during neonatal development on lipogenesis rate and lipoprotein lipase activity in adult rats.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) has been shown to alter several neuroendocrine functions in neonatally treated rats. To evaluate possible alterations in lipogenesis rate and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, male and female rats were injected during the neonatal period with MSG or saline (controls). In male MSG rats, an increase in lipogenesis of liver and retroperitoneal adipose tissues was observed. Triton WR 1339 (an LPL inhibitor) administration decreased retroperitoneal lipogenesis in these animals. In female rats, MSG-treatment increased lipogenesis only in gonadal and retroperitoneal adipose tissues. No change was observed in hepatic lipogenesis and the Triton administration did not change retroperitoneal lipogenesis. LPL activity was increased in the gonadal and retroperitoneal adipose tissues in male and female MSG-treated rats. These data suggest that there is a specific sex-dependent response in the development of MSG-induced obesity.