Some biochemical effects of sub-acute oral administration of L-arginine on monosodium glutamate-fed Wistar albino rats 1: body weight changes, serum cholesterol, creatinine, and sodium ion concentrations

Abstract

The present study aimed to determine whether monosodium glutamate (MSG) could induce biochemical effects at low dose levels, and to examine the possible role of L-arginine (L-ARG) on MSG-induced effects. Thus, MSG, at a dose of 5 mg kg⁻¹ of body weight (BW) was administered to adult male albino rats by oral intubation daily for 28 days. MSG treatment significantly increased BW, serum cholesterol (CHOL), and creatinine concentrations, but decreased serum sodium ion (Na⁺) levels. L-ARG 20 mg kg⁻¹ of BW co-administered with MSG, significantly increased BW, serum CHOL, and creatinine concentrations, but reduced serum Na⁺ concentrations. Data show that these effects induced by MSG at a dose of 5 mg kg⁻¹ were enhanced by L-ARG. Thus, L-ARG at 20 mg kg⁻¹ may exacerbate MSG-induced adverse effects in rats.

Keywords:

• monosodium glutamate
• L-arginine
• cholesterol
• creatinine
• body weight
• sodium ion
• nitric oxide