CARDIOTOXICITY OF MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE EXPOSURE IN WISTAR RATS: PROTECTIVE POTENTIAL OF SELENIUM

ABSTRACT

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is used worldwide as a flavor enhancer for increasing the palatability of food and thus food intake. Although MSG is generally considered safe, its high level of consumption has been implicated in oxidative stress, inflammation, and endothelial dysfunction, all of which are associated with cardiovascular diseases. Selenium, an essential constituent of a number of enzymes, has been reported to possess both antioxidant and antiinflammatory effects, highlighting its therapeutic potential. The aim of this study was to investigate the protective potential of selenium against monosodium glutamate-induced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats. Twenty adult Wistar rats weighing between 170g and 200g were randomly divided into four groups (A-D) of five rats each. Group A rats served as Control; Group B rats were administered 200 mg/Kg of MSG; Group C rats were administered 0.5 mg/Kg of selenium; Group D rats were given a co-administration of 200 mg/Kg of MSG and 0.5 mg/Kg of selenium. All administrations lasted for twenty-eight days via oral gavage. Following the sacrifice of the experimental rats, the hearts were collected for both histological (H&E and Masson‘s Trichrome) and statistical assessments. Body weight increased significantly (p<0.05) in the control group and the selenium only treated group. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the body weight of the MSG- only and MSG + selenium treated groups, when compared to control, alongside a significant increase (p<0.05) in the body weight of the selenium only treated group and MSG+ selenium treated groups, when compared to MSG- only treated group. There was a significant decrease (p<0.05) in the heart weight of the MSG only and the MSG + selenium treated group, when compared to the control group. And a significant increase in the selenium only treated group when compared to the MSG only treated group. There was no significant decrease (p>0.05) in the cardiosomatic indices between all groups. Histological findings from this study revealed that monosodium glutamate caused hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, myocarditis and fibrosis( which were evidenced as densely distributed collagen fibers). However, selenium administration was able to protect against MSG -induced cardiotoxicity. In conclusion, this study presents histological evidence that selenium protects against monosodium glutamateinduced cardiotoxicity in Wistar rats.