Changes in the reproductive hormone levels of male and female rats consuming monosodium glutamate and soybean extracts.

The present study sought to analyze the possible changes that might be caused by MSG and soybean on the secretion of both the male and female reproductive hormones in wistar rats. Two hundred and ten wistar rats (105 female and 105 male rats) were used for this study. The 105 female rats were equally divided into three groups representing the various experimental durations of 2, 4, and 6 months. Each of these groups consisting of 35 rats were further divided equally into 7 subgroups each containing 5 rats. 3 out of the 7 subgroups were orally administered MSG, another 3 out of the 7 subgroups were orally administered soybean according to the established LD50 as follows: 1000 mg/kg b.w (low dose, LD), 2000 mg/kg b.w (medium dose, MD), 3000 mg/kg b.w (High dose, HD) daily, while the 7th group served as the control group and was given only water and normal rat chow. The 105 male rats were also grouped in same manner and orally administered the MSG and soybean. The levels of LH, FSH, progesterone (PRG), oestrogen (E2) and testosterone were analyzed by ELISA technique. Long period administration of MSG significantly (p<0.05) decreased the levels of LH, PRG, E2 and FSH in the female rats when compared with the control group. Consumption of soybean for a long period of time significantly (p<0.05) decreased the level of E2 and FSH in the female rats, while short period administration significantly (p<0.05) increased the PRG level and long period administration significantly (p<0.05) decreased the PRG level in comparison with the control. Long and short period consumption of MSG as well as soybean significantly (p<0.05) decreased the levels of testosterone and LH in the male rats, while only long period administration of both significantly (p<0.05) decreased the level of FSH in the male rats when compared with the control group. The consumption of both small and large amounts of MSG and soybean elicit reproductive hormonal imbalance irrespective of the gender through the alteration of the levels of FSH, LH, E2, testesterone and PRG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]