EXPOSURE TO MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE IMPAIRS MURINE ERECTILE TISSUE FUNCTION
Makaleler > Tam Makale · 2025
Yazarlar: G Demir, O Mert, Elif ALAN ALBAYRAK, D Getboga, Yasemin ERAÇ, Gülnur SEVİN
The Journal of Sexual Medicine, Uluslararası, Wos, 2025, cilt 22
DOI: 10.1093/jsxmed/qdaf077.007
Özet
Abstract Objectives Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a widely used food additive as a flavor enhancer. MSG causes metabolic syndrome and reduces testosterone and sperm count, disrupting sperm morphology and testicular histological structure in animal models. While MSG has been reported to impair male reproductive system, there is no study investigating its effects on the functional/vascular responses of corpus cavernosum (CC). Therefore, we aim to investigate the effects of MSG on vascular responses, oxidative stress in the rat corpus cavernosum (RCC), and cytosolic Ca2+ levels in A7R5 cells. Methods The contractions [Potassium chloride (KCl; 20-120 mM), phenylephrine (Phe; 10^-8 - 10^-4 M)] and relaxations [(acetylcholine (Ach; 10^-8 - 10^-3 M), sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10^-9 - 10^-4 M)] responses of RCC during incubations of MSG were investigated in isolated organ baths. The role of Ca2 + -involved mechanisms was evaluated by through CaCl2 (10^-4 - 3 × 10^-2 M) responses in a Ca2 + -free Krebs in the strips depolarized by KCl (80 mM) in the presence/absence of MSG. Changes in intracellular Ca + 2 [(Ca + 2)i] levels were monitored indirectly using a dual wavelength front surface spectrofluorometer in A7r5 cells loaded with fura-2. Oxidative stress was measured using a chemiluminescence method. One- or Two-Way ANOVA, and Bonferroni post-hoc tests were used for statistical analysis (n = 6, GraphPad Prism). Results 3-10 mM concentrations of MSG did not change vascular responses of RCC(P > 0.001). KCl and Phe-induced contractions(P < 0.001) and ACh-induced relaxation (P < 0.001) responses were diminished by incubations of 30-100 mM MSG. SNP-induced relaxations were only decreased by MSG (100 mM) (P < 0.001). In Ca2 + -free Krebs experiments, CaCl2-induced contractions were decreased in MSG (100 mM) (P < 0.01). KCl(80 mM) and Phe(10^-6 M) induced elevations in [(Ca + 2)i] were inhibited in the presence of MSG(100 mM) in A7R5 cells. Furthermore, MSG [30 mM(P < 0.01) and 100 mM(P < 0.001)] increased free radical levels. Conclusions MSG significantly disrupts vascular responses and calcium-induced mechanisms and increases free radicals in RCC. These findings suggest that MSG may impair erectile tissue function and that long-term exposure to MSG may be a risk factor for male reproductive health. Conflicts of Interest All authors declare no conflict of interest.