Histological and ultrastructural studies concerning the protective effects of some micronutrients – antioxidant factors, against L-monosodium glutamate administration on some brain and pituitary structures in prepubertal supercuni rabbits

Authors: Constantin PUICA¹*, Constantin CRACIUN², Maria BORSA¹, Mircea RUSU¹, Ioana ROMAN¹

Affiliation: ¹ Institute of Biological Research Cluj-Napoca, Romania; ² University Babes-Bolyai Cluj-Napoca, Romania

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ABSTRACT. The neurotoxic properties of L-monosodium glutamate), MSG have generated significant interest among neuroscientists. Evidence implicating in excitotoxin neurodegenerative disorders stimulated interest in the possibility that antagonists of MSG might prove valuable as neuroprotective in experimental and clinical neurology. In the last decade a considerable interest has been generated concerning the use of natural compounds, antioxidants in particular, in neuroprotection. Antioxidants are substances that prevent or repair oxidative damage of cell constituents. The antioxidants that have been most studied to date include vitamins C, E, minerals such as the selenium and specific phytochemicals such as Ginkgo biloba and carotenoids. The objective of our study was to determine the synergic and the presumable protective effects of some antioxidant micronutrients: magnesium lactate associated with vitamins B6, C, E and selenium on the neuronal and anterior pituitar structure and neuronal ultrastructure in the mediobasal hypothalamus in white juvenile rats. Our results showed that the administration of 0.15 mg/g b.w. of MSG induced some neurodegenerative aspects of the neurons (degeneration of al cellular constituents: nuclei, mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, demyelisation and interruption of the myelin sheath, vacuolisation at the level of axoplasma), in lesioned regions of hypothalamus. The results revealed a certain protective effects of the antioxidant micronutrients: magnesium lactate associated with vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E and selenium, against MSG brain toxicity, in the sense of return toward normal of the brain neuronal ultrastructure. Our results are in accord with the literature data, which demonstrated that antioxidants are substances which prevent or repair the neuronal cell constituents, affected by MSG toxicity.

Keywords: histological, ultrastructural, protective, antioxidant factors, L-monosodium glutamate, brain, pituitary, rabbits