A behavioral assessment of arcuate nucleus damage after a single injection of monosodium glutamate.
The behavioral and histological consequences of the administration of a single injection of monosodium glutamate (MSG) to neonatal mice, were examined. Profound neuronal loss was evident in the arcuate nucleus of mice administered 4 mg/g MSG on postnatal day 4. Adult MSG-treated mice were obese and hypophagic despite significantly elevated activity levels. In addition, these obese MSG-treated mice maintained their hypophagia even in the presence of a food restriction schedule which resulted in significant weight loss. MSG-treated mice were hypodipsic, but did not differ from controls in their response to adulteration of their drinking water with sodium chloride, saccharin or quinine. These studies demonstrate that a single neonatal injection of MSG is sufficient to produce dramatic behavioral alterations.
D000818:Animals; D001111:Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus / Q000187:drug effects*; D001522:Behavior, Animal / Q000187:drug effects*; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000187:drug effects; D005260:Female; D005971:Glutamates / Q000633:toxicity*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000187:drug effects; D009115:Muridae; D011247:Pregnancy; D012903:Smell / Q000187:drug effects; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000633:toxicity*; D013649:Taste / Q000187:drug effects
D005971:Glutamates; D012970:Sodium Glutamate