Monosodium glutamate administration early in life alters pineal melatonin nocturnal profile in adulthood

MSG alters melatonin nocturnal profile in the pineal glands

  • Janaína B Garcia, MSc Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, 05503-000, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • Fernanda G do Amaral Department of Physiology, Federal University of São Paulo, 04023-901, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • Daniela C Buonfiglio Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • Rafaela FA Vendrame Jau Medical School – UNOESTE, 17203-481, Jaú/SP, Brazil
  • Patrícia L Alves Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, 05503-000, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • Maria Eliza F de Paulo Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, 05503-000, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • Julieta H Scialfa Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • Paulo F da Silveira Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, 05503-000, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • José Cipolla-Neto Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, 05508-900, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
  • Solange C Afeche Laboratory of Pharmacology, Butantan Institute, 05503-000, São Paulo/SP, Brazil
DOI: https://doi.org/10.32794/mr11250084
Keywords: Monosodium glutamate, melatonin, pineal gland, hypothalamic obesity, insulin resistance

Abstract


The pineal gland synthesizes melatonin exclusively at night, which gives melatonin the characteristic of a temporal synchronizer of the physiological systems. Melatonin is a regulator of insulin activities centrally and also peripherally and its synthesis is reduced in diabetes.  Since monosodium glutamate (MSG) is often used to induce the type 2 diabetic and metabolic syndrome in animal models, the purpose of this work is to evaluate the potential effects of MSG given to neonates on the pineal melatonin synthesis in different aged male and female rats. Wistar rats were subcutaneously injected with MSG (4mg/g/day) or saline solution (0.9%) from the second to eighth post-natal day. The circadian profiles both melatonin levels and AANAT activity were monitored at different ages. Body weight, naso-anal length, adipose tissues weight, GTT, ITT and serum insulin levels were also evaluated. Typical obesity with the neonatal MSG treatment was observed, indicated by a great increase in adipose depots without a concurrent increase in body weight. MSG treatment did not cause hyperglycemia or glucose intolerance, but induced insulin resistance. An increase of melatonin synthesis at ZT 15 with phase advance was observed in in some animals. The AANAT activity was positively parallel to the melatonin circadian profile. It seems that MSG causes hypothalamic obesity which may increase AANAT activity and melatonin production in pineal gland. These effects were not temporally correlated with insulin resistance and hyperinsulinemia indicating the hypothalamic lesions, particularly in arcuate nucleus induced by MSG in early age, as the principal cause of the increase in melatonin production.



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Published
2021-01-01
How to Cite
[1]
Garcia, J.B., do Amaral, F.G., Buonfiglio, D.C., Vendrame, R.F., Alves, P.L., de Paulo, M.E.F., Scialfa, J.H., da Silveira, P.F., Cipolla-Neto, J. and Afeche, S.C. 2021. Monosodium glutamate administration early in life alters pineal melatonin nocturnal profile in adulthood. Melatonin Research. 4, 1 (Jan. 2021), 99-114. DOI:https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.32794/mr11250084.
Issue
Vol 4 No 1 (2021): Melatonin Research
Section
Research Articles
DOI
https://doi.org/10.32794/mr11250084
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