Morphometric analysis of the gastrointestinal mucosa in monosodium glutamate-treated albino rats

Abstract

The consumption of monosodium glutamate as a major constituent of food flavours or additives has been on the increase in Nigeria despite the strongly speculated side-effects. Objectives: This study intends to determine effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on the morphology of stomach and small intestines of male Albino rats. Methods: Forty-four rats weighing 40 80g were randomly divided into four groups of eleven animals each consisting of six treatment and five controls. All the treatment rats were intraperitoneally injected with 4g/kg body weight of aqueous solution of MSG daily while the controls received comparable volume of normal saline. The animals in groups I, II, III, IV were sacrificed at the end of the day one, 2^nd week, 4^th week and 6^th week of experiment respectively. Samples obtained from the fundic and pyloric parts of the stomach, distal parts of duodenum, jejunum and ileum were carefully dissected and quickly fixed in Bouin's fluid for morphometric studies after H&E stain. Results: n comparing the values from sections of MSG treated rats with those of controls a significant (P<0.05) reduction in length and circumference of the small intestines were obtained. The thickness of the gastric mucosa and mucosa of the duodenum and ileum were significantly (P<0.05) increased except for the thickness of jejunal mucosa which was significantly (P<0.05) reduced later during the course of the experiment. Conclusion: These findings indicate that MSG induces trophic changes that are characterized by decrease in the length and circumference of the small intestine and increase in the duodenal and ileal villi length with concomitant increase in the thickness of the gastric mucosa.