Monosodium glutamate is used commercially as a food
additive and is commonly marketed as a flavour enhancer. It
is now used by most fast-food chains and in many food-stuffs,
in particular, processed foods. Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is
a very important and powerful antioxidant that works in
aqueous environment of the body Vitamin C protects against
common cold. Beneficial effects in conditions such as cancer,
vascular disease, cataracts, diabetes, asthma, arthritis, Parkinson's disease, autism and depression have also been suggested.
Aim of the Work: The aim of this study was to study the
potential protective effect of Vitamin C on kidney damage
caused by monosodium glutamate in adult male rats.
Material and Methods: Sixty adult albino rats were used.
The animals were equally divided into three groups each of
them consists of 20 rats: Group I: "Control" were given 1ml
of saline daily by oral route "for one month. Group II: Were
given monosodium glutamate (4gm/kg of body weight/day,
dissolved in saline orally) for one month. Group III: Were
given Vitamin C (500mg/kg of body weight /day, orally) then
after 2 hours were given monosodium glutamate (4gm/kg of
body weight/day, dissolved in saline orally) for one month.
At the end of the experiment, the rats were anaesthetized
by ether then perfused with saline then with the appropriate
fixator (formalin 10%). The abdomens were opened and the
kidneys of the control and treated animals were extracted,
cut, and processed for light and transmission electron microscopic studies.
Results: Monosodium Glutamate (MSG) markedly destructed glomeruli and tubules of the kidney at light and
electron microscopic examination and morphmetric studies.
Administration of Vitamin C could attenuate these changes.
Conclusion: MSG caused degenerative changes in the
cortical glomeruli and tubules. On the addition of Vitamin C
can decrease that toxic effects of MSG