Reproductive dysfunction in male rats following neonatal administration of monosodium L-glutamate.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG) was administered to neonatal rats according to an increasing dose schedule from days 2-11 after birth. Adult MSG-treated male rats showed reproductive deficits along with stunted body lengths and reduced testes weights. These results demonstrate that MSG is capable of producing reproductive deficits in the rat similar to those seen in the mouse. These results are discussed in light of the methodological differences between those studies reporting positive or negative findings on reproductive function in MSG-treated mice and rats.