Effect of Monosodium Glutamate on Chick Embryo Development

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a natural neurotransmitter amino acid and a flavoring agent added to many processed food and used by many housewives in cooking. Fertile chicken eggs were injected once with (0.75mg MSG/gm. egg weight) in the air chamber before incubation. Eggs were then incubated under normal incubation conditions. Embryos were extracted on day 7, 10 and 14 of incubation. Treated embryos showed different congenital malformations such as growth retardation and subcutaneous bleeding in 7, 10 and 14 days compared to the controls. Abdominal hernia was seen in 7 and 10 day treated embryos. Most of the congenital malformations were seen in 10 day treated chick embryos such as brain deformation, monophthalmia and beak malformation. Histological study of the developing liver in the studied ages of the treated embryos showed that liver seemed to have less cell density and a dilation of venous canals and blood sinusoid. Fibrosis, bleeding, hemorrhage and congestion were seen in the central and portal veins. Many cavities appeared in the peripheral liver parts compared to controls. On the cellular level many cells had a granular appearance. Also an increase in the number and size of lipid droplets was seen in the treated sections compared to the controls. pyknotic, karyolisis were seen in treated hepatocytes Also phagocytic cells were seen in blood sinusoids. Necrosis was also seen in treated sections. It was concluded that a single low dose of monosodium glutamate might affect chick embryonic development causing growth retardation, congenital malformations, and liver degeneration. (Fatma Al-Qudsi, Anan Al-Jahdali. Effect of Monosodium Glutamate on Chick Embryo Development. J Am Sci 2012;8(10):499-509). (ISSN: 1545-1003). http://www.jofamericanscience.org. 72