Neonatal influence of monosodium glutamate on the somatometric parameters of rats.

The glutamate receptors are expressed in various cell types including bone and adipose cells. The effects of neonatal administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the "programming" of somatometric parameters in Wistar rats during the period up to 14th week of life were estimated. The rats were treated subcutaneously with five doses of 4 mg/g MSG (10 microl/g body mass) during the first 10 postnatal days (group M). The control (group C) was treated in the same manner with normal saline solution. During three months, body mass, naso-anal length and tail length were measured in 14 days intervals, while femoral and tibial masses and lengths, and testicular mass were measured following sacrificing. The body mass at the end of this period in the M group of males was higher than the body mass in the group C. Reduction in relative bone length, body and tail lengths and the relative as well as absolute testicular mass were registered in MSG-treated rats. A significant reduction in somatometric parameters was registered only in female MSG-treated rats during period of sexual maturation compared to controls.