Lack of carcinogenicity of monosodium L-glutamate in Fischer 344 rats.
Monosodium L-glutamate (MSG) was administered to groups of 50 male and 50 female Fischer 344 rats in the diet at levels of 0, 0.6, 1.25, 2.5 and 5.0% for a 2-yr period. Survival of dosed and control rats of both sexes was comparable, although animals receiving 5.0% MSG showed a trend towards (or significant) growth retardation. Urinary biochemistry values indicated increased pH and Na+ levels and decreased K+ in rats of both sexes given 2.5 or 5.0%. However, no significant increases in proliferative or neoplastic lesion development in the urinary tract were observed in any MSG-treated animals. In addition, occurrences of neoplastic lesions in other organs did not differ between treated and control groups. The present study thus did not demonstrate any long-term carcinogenic effect of MSG administered to rats at levels up to 5.0% in the diet.
Shibata
M A
MA
First Department of Pathology, Nagoya City University Medical School, Japan.
Tanaka
H
H
Kawabe
M
M
Sano
M
M
Hagiwara
A
A
Shirai
T
T
D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D015197:Carcinogenicity Tests; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011916:Rats, Inbred F344; D012970:Sodium Glutamate / Q000633:toxicity*; D016482:Urinalysis; D014551:Urinary Tract / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
D002273:Carcinogens; D012970:Sodium Glutamate