Table 6.

Summary of preclinical studies investigating MSG administration effect on fertility

Mode of administration	Species	MSG dosage/day	Duration of administration	MSG effect (vs. control)	Reference
Mixed with diet	Adult female Wistar rats	0.04 mg/kg (n=8) 0.08 mg/kg (n=8)	14	Morphological changes of the fallopian tubes (cellular hypertrophy of the columnar epithelium, distortion of the basement membrane separating the endosalpinx from the myosalpinx); Changes were more pronounced with the higher doses of MSG.	(Eweka & Om’iniabohs, 2011)
Mixed with diet	Adult female Wistar rats	0.04 mg/kg (n=8) 0.08 mg/kg (n=8)	14	Morphological changes of the ovaries (cellular hypertrophy of the theca folliculi, distortion of the basement membrane separating the theca folliculi from the zona granulosa). Degenerative and atrophic changes in the oocyte; More severe changes were reported for MSG 0.08mg/kg.	(Eweka et al., 2010)
Intraperitoneal	Wistar male rats	4 g/kg (n=24)	14	Loss of spermatogenic cells; Spermatic cells showed abnormalities in the shape; Atrophy of the seminiferous tubules intercellular vacuolation in the stroma and peritubular fibrosis; Decrease in testicular weight, tubular diameter, germinal epithelium height.	(Nosseir et al., 2012)
Subcutaneous	Female Swiss Albino mice newborns	2 g/kg (n=8)	5 (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th day of life)	After 75 days of recovery, the following results were reported for MSG groups: Increase in number of primary follicles; Follicle-stimulating hormone level similar to control; Increase in serum prolactin and growth hormone; Decrease in the serum estradiol.	(Das & Ghosh, 2011a)
Subcutaneous	Male Swiss Albino mice newborns	2 g/kg (n=7)	5: 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 10th day of life.	After 75 days of recovery, the following results were reported for MSG groups: Similar mean weight and volume of the testes as control; Increase in the number of the pachytene stage of primary spermatocytes.	(Das & Ghosh, 2011b)