Effects of dietary monosodium glutamate on the acetylcholinesterase, specific acetylcholinesterase and total protein concentrations in the brain regions of domestic fowl (Gallus domesticus) layers

This study investigated the effect of varied levels of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on acetylcholinesterase, specific acetylcholinesterase and total protein concentrations in the brain of laying hens. A total of 300 point-of-lay (POL) 16 weeks old Isa Brown pullets were randomly allotted to six dietary treatments containing 0.00 (control), 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.00 and 1.25 g MSG/kg diet. Two birds were kept in a cage for the feeding trial in a completely randomized design and lasted for 16 weeks. At the end of the trial, the hens were slaughtered and their brains were harvested. Homogenized samples from the medulla oblongata, olfactory lobe, optic lobe and cerebellum were analyzed to determine acetylcholinesterase, specific acetylcholinesterase and total protein concentrations. Result showed that MSG did not affect any of the brain regions of hens fed 0.25 – 0.50 g MSG/kg. However, the medulla oblongata was significantly (p<0.05) influenced at inclusion level of 1.25g MSG/kg diet. Total protein concentration was significantly (p<0.05) higher in pineal gland, medulla oblongata and cerebellum brain regions of the hens fed 0.25 g MSG/kg. Total protein concentration in the optic lobe region of the brain of the hens fed the control diet were significantly (p<0.05) higher than those on the treatment diets. The SAChE activities of the optic lobe and medulla oblongata region of the brain were not influenced (P≥0.05) by dietary MSG although the group of layers fed with 1.25gMSG/Kg were affected. Significant changes were observed in the SAChE activities of the cerebellum while olfactory lobe and pineal gland regions of the brain were statistically unaffected. This study concluded that dietary MSG inclusion in layers’ diets above 0.50 g/kg diet increased the activities of acetylcholinesterase concentration in the optic lobe, cerebellum and olfactory lobe and reduced the total protein in the different regions of the brain with tendency to impair brain function. Keywords: Monosodium glutamate, acetylcholinesterase, total protein, specific acetylcholinesteras

Growth and reproductive performance of female mice administered varied concentrations of monosodium glutamate

The impact of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on growth and reproductive performance of mice was evaluated using 96 mice -28 males and 68 females, divided into four groups. Mice in group A received no MSG, while those in groups B, C, and D received 1, 2, and 4 mg per gm body weight of 40% aqueous solution of MSG every 48 hours for six weeks. After the sixth week, 15 female mice selected from each treatment were randomly allotted to three male mice of corresponding treatment for multiple mating for 48 hours. The female mice from each treatment group were monitored through gestation. Results showed a time- and dose-dependent significant (p<0.05) influence of MSG on feed intake of the animals. The final body weight of the control mice was statistically lower (p<0.05) than those administered the medium and high concentrations of MSG. The total weight gained by mice not administered MSG was 97.9, 95.1 and 87.6 % of those administered 1, 2 and 4 mg MSG/g BW, respectively. The conception rate and gestation length increased in group B while the mean live weight of pups decreased with increasing concentrations of MSG administered. Compared with the weights of pups from the control, the weight of pups from mice in treatment groups B and C decreased by 10.66 and 26%, respectively. The conception rate and the average number of pups decreased significantly (p<0.05) at 2mg of MSG/g BW compared to the control. The gestation length increased significantly (p<0.05) at 2mg of MSG/g BW. Dead pups were recorded from mice administered 2mg of MSG/g BW. The result also showed that female mice administered 4mg of MSG/g BW had no pup. This study has shown that MSG is capable of producing an adverse effect on feed consumption, body weight and reproductive performance in the laboratory animal.Keywords: Monosodium glutamate; Food additive, Feed intake, Growth, Mice, Reproductio

Physiological response of rabbit bucks to dietary fumonisin: Performance, haematology and serum biochemistry

Maize grains contaminated with fumonisin, a metabolite of Fusarium verticillioides was incorporated into matured male rabbits' diet to evaluate its effects on performance, haematology and serum biochemistry in rabbits. Thirty individually caged crossbred adult rabbit bucks averaging 1.36 ± 0.01 kg (about 22-24-week-old) were randomly allotted to three treatment diets comprising a control diet (containing 0.35 ± 0.02 mg fumonisin/kg) and two test diets containing 12.30 ± 0.16 and 24.56 ± 0.14 mg fumonisin/kg, constituting treatments 1 (low infection), 2 (medium infection) and 3 (high infection), respectively, in a five-week feeding trial. Results showed that the dry matter intake (DMI) (g/rabbit) at the end of the feeding trial was significantly (P < 0.05) influenced. The DMI declined with increasing dietary fumonisin by a significant 80% and 95% (P < 0.05) for high and medium levels of dietary fumonisin, respectively, relative to the mean weekly DMI of 609.93 ± 45.08 g by rabbits fed diet with low level of fumonisin. The weekly weight gain tended to decrease with increased dietary fumonisin levels, while the haematological and serum biochemical components examined, were not statistically influenced among the diets when fed to male rabbits for a period of 5 weeks