味精加剧了脂多糖诱导的雄性Wistar大鼠的生殖毒性。

Monosodium glutamate exacerbated the lipopolysaccharide-induced reproductive toxicity of male Wistar rats.

作者信息

Ogunro Olalekan Bukunmi, Asejeje Folake Olubukola, Hamzat Zainab Olamide

机构信息

Drug Discovery, Toxicology, and Pharmacology Research Laboratory, Department of Biological Sciences, KolaDaisi University, Ibadan, Oyo State, 2001213, Nigeria.

Department of Chemical Sciences, Ajayi Crowther University, Oyo, Nigeria.

出版信息

BMC Pharmacol Toxicol. 2025 Aug 1;26(1):140. doi: 10.1186/s40360-025-00982-4.

DOI:10.1186/s40360-025-00982-4

PMID:40751218

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a common food additive that has been linked to oxidative stress and reproductive dysfunction. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS), a bacterial endotoxin, is known to induce systemic inflammation, leading to oxidative damage and hormonal disruption. This study investigated whether MSG exacerbates LPS-induced testicular toxicity in male Wistar rats via oxidative stress and endocrine dysfunction.

METHODS

Twenty-eight male Wistar rats were divided into four groups (n = 7): control (distilled water), MSG (1500 mg/kg), LPS (250 µL/kg), and a combination of MSG + LPS. MSG was used in the background of LPS to model a real-life "double-hit" exposure where dietary and microbial toxins co-exist. We hypothesised that MSG would amplify LPS-induced reproductive damage through converging mechanisms such as ROS generation, antioxidant depletion, and hormonal dysregulation.

RESULTS

Compared to control, MSG and LPS significantly reduced sperm count (MSG: p = 0.0001; LPS: p = 0.0001), motility (p = 0.0001; p = 0.0001), and viability (p = 0.0001; p = 0.0001), with more pronounced effects in the MSG + LPS group (p = 0.0001). The number of abnormal sperm cells was, however, increased significantly (p = 0.0001 for MSG; p = 0.0001 for LPS; p = 0.0009 for MSG + LPS). Serum testosterone (p = 0.0001 for MSG; p = 0.0001 for LPS; p = 0.0001 for MSG + LPS), FSH (p = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0001), and LH (p = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0001) were significantly decreased. Antioxidant enzymes/parameter SOD (p = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0001), CAT (p = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0001), GST (p = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0001), and GSH (p = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0001) were depleted, while TBARS levels increased significantly (p = 0.0001, 0.0001, 0.0001). Histological analysis revealed extensive structural damage in the MSG + LPS group.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings suggest that MSG potentiated LPS-induced testicular toxicity through oxidative stress and endocrine suppression, underscoring potential reproductive risks associated with combined dietary and inflammatory exposures.

摘要

背景

味精（MSG）是一种常见的食品添加剂，与氧化应激和生殖功能障碍有关。脂多糖（LPS）是一种细菌内毒素，已知可诱导全身炎症，导致氧化损伤和激素紊乱。本研究调查了味精是否通过氧化应激和内分泌功能障碍加剧LPS诱导的雄性Wistar大鼠睾丸毒性。

方法

将28只雄性Wistar大鼠分为四组（n = 7）：对照组（蒸馏水）、味精组（1500 mg/kg）、LPS组（250 μL/kg）和味精+LPS联合组。在LPS的背景下使用味精来模拟饮食和微生物毒素共存的现实生活中的“双重打击”暴露。我们假设味精会通过ROS生成、抗氧化剂消耗和激素失调等共同机制放大LPS诱导的生殖损伤。

结果

与对照组相比，味精和LPS显著降低了精子数量（味精组：p = 0.0001；LPS组：p = 0.0001）、活力（p = 0.0001；p = 0.0001）和存活率（p = 0.0001；p = 0.0001），在味精+LPS组中效果更明显（p = 0.0001）。然而，异常精子细胞的数量显著增加（味精组p = 0.0001；LPS组p = 0.0001；味精+LPS组p = 0.0009）。血清睾酮（味精组p = 0.0001；LPS组p = 0.0001；味精+LPS组p = 0.0001）、促卵泡激素（p = 0.0001、0.0001、0.000 I）和促黄体生成素（p = 0.0001、0.0001、0.0001）显著降低。抗氧化酶/参数超氧化物歧化酶（p = 0.0001、0.0001、0.0001）、过氧化氢酶（p = 0.0001、0.0001、0.0001）、谷胱甘肽S-转移酶（p = 0.0001、0.0001、0.0001）和谷胱甘肽（p = 0.0001、0.0001、0.0001）减少，而丙二醛水平显著增加（p = 0.0001、0.0001、0.0001）。组织学分析显示味精+LPS组有广泛的结构损伤。