Glycogenolysis response to adrenergic agonists in the liver of rats treated with monosodium glutamate (MSG) - DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v28i2.1103

Abstract

Administration of MSG to neonate rats causes lesions in the arcuate nucleus (AN), followed by a syndrome of neuroendocrine dysfunction characterized by obesity and decreased sympathetic activity. The aim of the present investigation was to examine the responses of hepatic glycogenolysis to α- and β-adrenergic agonists in rats’ treatment with MSG. Male Wistar rats received subcutaneous injections of MSG (4 mg g^-1 body weight) or hyperosmotic saline (controls) during five days after birth. Ninety days after treatment, the livers of the MSG or controls rats were perfused in situ with epinephryne and α- and β-adrenergic agonists. Epinephryne, Isoproterenol and phenylephrine increased glycogenolysis in the MSG-treated rats, compared to the controls (50 ± 2.8 Vs 17 ± 0.89 μmol min^-1 g^-1 of liver, p < 0.0001; 64 ± 0.15 Vs 37 ± 0.39, p < 0.0001; 35 ± 2.48 Vs 27 ± 0.98, p < 0.05, respectively). Results indicated that the lesion in the AN increased glycogen catabolism to adrenergic agonists, possibly, due to the reduced activity of the sympathetic-adrenal axis