THE EFFECT OF MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE CONSUMPTION ON CAROTID SINUS MORPHOLOGY: AN ELECTRON MICROSCOPY EXPERIMENTAL STUDY

Sodomora О. О.

MORPHOLOGY

Scentific article

Background. Monosodium glutamate is a food additive and flavor enhancer that is widely used and considered relatively safe for consumption in many countries. Since it was first discovered by Professor Kikunae Ikeda in 1907, its various toxic effects were reported in numerous studies. However, not all of them were equally decisive in their conclusions given the fact some of the experimental studies conducted had several flaws in their design that presumably could have affected the results’ extrapolation onto the human population. Further studies are needed to establish monosodium glutamate role in vascular pathology induction and development, particularly its effects on the morphology of carotid sinus and adjacent structures. Objective. The objective of this study was to analyze morphologic changes of carotid sinus under the influence of a low dose of monosodium glutamate administered orally by means of electron microscopy in experimental setting. Materials and methods. Carotid sinuses of 10 adult male white laboratory rats were studied by electron microscopy following 4, 6 and 8 weeks of oral administration of 10 mg/kg monosodium glutamate daily. The data was compared with the results of morphologic study of carotid sinus in the control group of 10 adult male rats. Conclusions. The data obtained suggests that monosodium glutamate oral consumption is associated with alterations of carotid sinus wall consistent with dystrophy and hypoxia at the early stages and apoptosis, fibrosis and lipid transformation at the later stages, while carotid glomus shows signs of cellular damage and apoptosis at a slightly later point in time but then the alterations worsen progressively. Further investigation is needed to evaluate morphologic changes of carotid sinus and adjacent structures associated with monosodium glutamate withdrawal.

monosodium glutamate,carotid sinus,carotid glomus,internal carotid artery,carotid bifurcation.

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«Bulletin of problems biology and medicine» Issue 4 (167), 2022 year, 316-321 pages, index UDK 616.133-091:547.466.6]-092.9

10.29254/2077-4214-2022-4-167-316-321