Monosodium glutamate lesions inhibit the N-methyl-D-aspartate-induced growth hormone but not prolactin release in rats

Activation of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor regulates insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism

RATIONALE

Although significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of steatosis and insulin resistance, the physiological functions of regulators in these processes remain largely elusive. Evidence has suggested that the glutamate/N-methyl-D-aspartic acid receptor (NMDAR) axis contributes to acute lung injury, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and diabetes, but the specific metabolic contribution of the glutamate/NMDAR axis is not clear. Here we provide data at the animal, cellular, and molecular levels to support the role of the glutamate/NMDAR axis as a therapeutic target for metabolic syndrome in obesity. Methods: We examined the glutamate level in the obese mouse induced by a high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks. To assess the role of NMDAR in insulin sensitivity and lipid metabolism, we tested the effects of Memantine (an NMDAR antagonist) and NMDA (an NMDAR agonist) on mice fed with HFD or standard chow diet. The in vitros NMDAR roles were analyzed in hepatocytes and potential mechanisms involved in regulating lipid metabolism were investigated. Results: Glutamate was increased in the serum of HFD-treated mice. The NMDAR blockade by Memantine decreased the susceptibility to insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis in obese mice. NMDA treatment for 6 months induced obesity in mice, characterized by hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, insulin resistance, and pathological changes in the liver. We provided in vitro evidence demonstrating that NMDAR activation facilitated metabolic syndrome in obesity through promoting lipid accumulation. NMDAR inhibition attenuated lipid accumulation induced by palmitic acid. Mechanistically, NMDAR activation impaired fatty acid oxidation by reducing PPARα phosphorylation and activity. The PPARα activity reduction induced by NMDAR activation was reversibly mediated by ERK1/2 signaling. Conclusion: These findings revealed that targeting NMDAR might be a promising therapeutic strategy for metabolic syndrome in obesity.

Contribution of Vesicular Glutamate Transporters to Stress Response and Related Psychopathologies: Studies in VGluT3 Knockout Mice

Maintenance of the homeostasis in a constantly changing environment is a fundamental process of life. Disturbances of the homeostatic balance is defined as stress response and is induced by wide variety of challenges called stressors. Being the main excitatory neurotransmitter of the central nervous system glutamate is important in the adaptation process of stress regulating both the catecholaminergic system and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenocortical axis. Data are accumulating about the role of different glutamatergic receptors at all levels of these axes, but little is known about the contribution of different vesicular glutamate transporters (VGluT1-3) characterizing the glutamatergic neurons. Here we summarize basic knowledge about VGluTs, their role in physiological regulation of stress adaptation, as well as their contribution to stress-related psychopathology. Most of our knowledge comes from the VGluT3 knockout mice, as VGluT1 and 2 knockouts are not viable. VGluT3 was discovered later than, and is not as widespread as the VGluT1 and 2. It may co-localize with other transmitters, and participate in retrograde signaling; as such its role might be unique. Previous reports using VGluT3 knockout mice showed enhanced anxiety and innate fear compared to wild type. Moreover, these knockout animals had enhanced resting corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA levels in the hypothalamus and disturbed glucocorticoid stress responses. In conclusion, VGluT3 participates in stress adaptation regulation. The neuroendocrine changes observed in VGluT3 knockout mice may contribute to their anxious, fearful phenotype.

Glutamate in peripheral organs: Biology and pharmacology

Glutamate is a versatile molecule existing in both the central nervous system and peripheral organs. Previous studies have mainly focussed on the biological effect of glutamate in the brain. Recently, abundant evidence has demonstrated that glutamate also participates in the regulation of physiopathological functions in peripheral tissues, including the lung, kidney, liver, heart, stomach and immune system, where the glutamate/glutamate receptor/glutamate transporter system plays an important role in the pathogenesis of certain diseases, such as myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion injury and acute gastric mucosa injury. All these findings provide new insight into the biology and pharmacology of glutamate and suggest a potential therapeutic role of glutamate in non-neurological diseases.

Ghrelin alters neurite outgrowth and electrophysiological properties of mouse ventrolateral arcuate tyrosine hydroxylase neurons in culture

While the appetite-stimulating hormone ghrelin can act to acutely modulate electrical activity of neurons in the appetite regulating network, it also has a role in regulating neuronal outgrowth, synaptic connectivity and intrinsic electrophysiological properties. In this study, we investigated whether ghrelin may cause alteration in neurite outgrowth and electrophysiological properties of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) neurons from the ventrolateral arcuate nucleus (VL-ARC), which are thought to contribute to regulation of energy balance. We prepared dissociated neuronal cultures from the VL-ARC of transgenic mice expressing EGFP under control of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) promoter, thus allowing visual identification of putative catecholaminergic (TH-EGFP) neurons. After five days of treatment with 100 nM ghrelin, TH-EGFP neurons exhibited significantly more and longer neurites than control treated neurons, and the effects of ghrelin were abolished by 100 μM ghrelin antagonist, D-Lys-GHRP-6. To investigate whether ghrelin altered electrophysiological properties of TH-EGFP neurons, we carried out patch clamp experiments measuring electrophysiological properties. No significant differences were identified for resting membrane potential or spontaneous action potential frequency, however we observed a hyperpolarization of threshold for action potentials and increased input resistance, indicating increased excitability. This increased excitability is consistent with an observed hyperpolarizing shift in the activation of voltage-gated Na(+) currents. These data indicate that the hunger signal ghrelin induces plastic changes in TH-neurons from VL-ARC.

Cognitive and biochemical effects of monosodium glutamate and aspartame, administered individually and in combination in male albino mice

The present study was designed to investigate the in vivo effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) and aspartame (ASM) individually and in combination on the cognitive behavior and biochemical parameters like neurotransmitters and oxidative stress indices in the brain tissue of mice. Forty male Swiss albino mice were randomly divided into four groups of ten each and were exposed to MSG and ASM through drinking water for one month. Group I was the control and was given normal tap water. Groups II and III received MSG (8 mg/kg) and ASM (32 mg/kg) respectively dissolved in tap water. Group IV received MSG and ASM together in the same doses. After the exposure period, the animals were subjected to cognitive behavioral tests in a shuttle box and a water maze. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed and the neurotransmitters and oxidative stress indices were estimated in their forebrain tissue. Both MSG and ASM individually as well as in combination had significant disruptive effects on the cognitive responses, memory retention and learning capabilities of the mice in the order (MSG+ASM)>ASM>MSG. Furthermore, while MSG and ASM individually were unable to alter the brain neurotransmitters and the oxidative stress indices, their combination dose (MSG+ASM) decreased significantly the levels of neurotransmitters (dopamine and serotonin) and it also caused oxidative stress by increasing the lipid peroxides measured in the form of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS) and decreasing the level of total glutathione (GSH). Further studies are required to evaluate the synergistic effects of MSG and ASM on the neurotransmitters and oxidative stress indices and their involvement in cognitive dysfunctions.

Monosodium glutamate neonatal intoxication associated with obesity in adult stage is characterized by chronic inflammation and increased mRNA expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors in mice

The monosodium glutamate (MSG) neonatal administration in mice provides a model of obesity with impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) and insulin resistance. However, the inflammatory profile of cytokines produced from fat tissue and its relationship to the metabolic dysfunction induced by MSG have not yet been revealed. The aim of this study was to establish the inflammatory profile attributed to MSG by measuring the expression of adipokines in visceral fat and serum of 19-week-old mice as well as the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors alpha and gamma (PPARα and γ). Some metabolic and biochemical parameters were also quantified. The MSG increased mRNA expression of interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα), resistin and leptin, but adiponectin did not exhibit any changes. In addition, impaired glucose tolerance, increased levels of insulin, resistin and leptin were observed in serum. Both PPARα and PPARγ were activated in MSG-induced obese mice, which might explain its inflammatory profile. However, liver transaminases were severely depressed, indicating that MSG may also induce liver injury, contributing to inflammation. The MSG neonatal neuro-intoxication in mice may thus provide a model of obesity and inflammation characterized by the dual activation of PPARα and PPARγ, which might offer new insights into the mechanism of inflammatory diabetes in obesity leading to steatohepatitis, as well as a suitable model to study the role of new therapeutic agents to prevent or reduce insulin resistance, the inflammatory state and liver steatosis.

Changes in open-field activity and novelty-seeking behavior in periadolescent rats neonatally treated with monosodium glutamate

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) treatment of neonatal rodents leads to degeneration of the neurons in the arcuate nucleus, inner retinal layers and various other brain areas. It also causes various changes in the motor activity, sensory performance and learning abilities. We have previously shown that MSG treatment delays the appearance of some reflexes during neurobehavioral development and leads to temporary changes in reflex performance and motor coordination. Investigation of novelty-seeking behavior is of growing importance for its relationship with sensitivity to psychomotor stimulants. Perinatal administration of numerous toxic agents has been shown to influence novelty-seeking behavior in rats, but little is known about the influence of neonatal MSG treatment on the novelty-seeking behavior. The aim of the present study was to compare changes in locomotor, spontaneous exploratory and novelty-seeking behavior in periadolescent rats neonatally treated with MSG. Newborn rats were treated with 4 mg/g MSG subcutaneously on postnatal days 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9. Open-field behavior was tested at 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8 weeks of age. We found that MSG administration led to only temporary increases in locomotor behavior, which was more pronounced during the first few postnatal weeks, followed by a subtle hypoactivity at 2 months of age. Novelty-seeking was tested in four 5-min trials at 3 weeks of age. Trial 1 was in an empty open-field, two identical objects were placed in the arena during trial 2 and 3, and one of them was replaced to a novel object during trial 4. We found that the behavioral pattern of MSG-treated rats was the opposite in all tested signs in the novelty exploration test compared to control pups. In summary, our present study shows that neonatal MSG treatment leads to early temporary changes in the locomotor activity followed by hypoactivity at 2 months of age. Furthermore, MSG-treated rats show a markedly disturbed novelty-seeking behavior represented by altered activity when subjected to a novel object.

Relationship between pituitary and adipose tissue after hypothalamic denervation in the female rat. A morphometric immunohistochemical study

Neonatal administration of monosodium glutamate (MSG) to rats produces severe lesions in certain hypothalamic nuclei, with repercussions in different neuroendocrine axes, and serves as a model for their study. In addition, adipose tissue, as a target organ, is known to be directly related to several neurondocrine axes. We used 21-day-old female Sprague-Dawley rats that had received a neonatal treatment with MSG (4 mg/g body weight, i.p., from day 2 up to day 10 of age) in addition to control rats (injected with 10% NaCl solution, on a similar schedule). We performed a specific immunohistochemical study on each anterior-pituitary cell population, along with the morphometry of these cells and of the parietal and visceral adipose tissue, and measured the levels of serum leptin and triglycerides. The MSG animals evinced significant changes in volume density (VD), cell density (CD), and cell size (CS) in the corticotropes, thyrotropes, and LH gonadotropes, but not in the somatotropes, lactotropes, and FSH gonadotropes. The modification common to the three cell types was a hyperplasia, but with different results depending on cell size. Furthermore, in the MSG rats significant changes were also observed in the VD, CD, and CS of the adipose tissue, consisting of adipogenesis and decrease of adipocyte size in visceral fat, together with probable lipogenesis as judged by an increase in adipocyte size in the parietal fat. The serum levels of leptin and triglycerides appeared significantly higher in MSG animals. For the first time in this animal model, and at the level of three neuroendocrine axes, our results suggest changes that correlate hypothalamic damage, cellular pituitary alterations, and the response of the adipose tissue as a target organ for MSG insult.

Postnatal glutamate-induced central nervous system lesions alter periodontal disease susceptibility in adult Wistar rats

BACKGROUND

Inability to mount a suitable brain-neuroendocrine response to bacterial or other antigenic challenges has been found to play an important rôle in infectious and inflammatory disease susceptibility and progression, including periodontal disease.

OBJECTIVE

The present study was designed to determine the effects of glutamate administration to new-born Wistar rats on the development and progression of naturally occurring and ligature-induced periodontal disease in the rats as adults. Postnatal glutamate administration is known to permanently damage neurones in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus.

METHOD

New-born rats were treated 1x daily subcutaneously with 2 mg/g of monosodium-L-glutamate (MSG) for 5 days from day 3 to 6. Control animals were injected with similar amounts of saline. Experimental ligature-induced periodontal disease was induced in the rats at the age of 12 weeks at maxillary right 2nd molar teeth. The contralateral maxillary left 2nd molars served as control teeth, and for assessment of naturally occurring periodontal disease. Disease progression was evaluated histometrically.

RESULTS

The results revealed that the glutamate-lesioned rats developed significantly more periodontal tissue destruction compared to sham-lesioned control rats in both the ligated and non-ligated teeth.

CONCLUSIONS

This study supports our recent findings indicating that inappropriate brain-neuroendocrine-immune regulation may play a rôle in periodontal disease susceptibility and progression.

Neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment abolishes both delta opioid receptor-induced and alpha-2 adrenoceptor-mediated gastroprotection in the lower brainstem in rats

Neonatal monosodium glutamate treatment reduced immunoreactive beta-endorphin content in the mediobasal hypothalamus by 50% in adult, male Wistar rats as compared to hypertonic saline-treated littermates; there was also a moderate (approx. 25%) reduction in the rostral part of the nucleus of the solitary tract. In sham-treated adults the intracisternally injected alpha-2 adenoceptor stimulant clonidine (0.47 nmol/rat) and the delta opioid receptor type agonist (D-Ala(2), D-Leu(5))-enkephalin (0.8 nmol/rat) reduced acidified ethanol-induced mucosal lesions in the stomach by 84.1 and 77.5%, respectively, whereas the same doses were completely ineffective in rats treated neonatally by monosodium glutamate. The data taken together with the results of previous studies with the same substances in rats with retroarcuate knife cuts suggest that neuronal damage in the nucleus of the solitary tract region rather than in the arcuate nucleus is responsible for the changes seen in the pharmacological responsiveness.