SECRETION OF LUTEINIZING HORMONE IN OVARIECTOMIZED ADULT RATS TREATED NEONATALLY WITH MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE

We have studied the possible effects of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on LH secretion in ovariectomized rats. In experiment 1 MSG-treated and control rats were given oestradiol benzoate at noon and 72 h later half the rats in each group were given a second injection of oestradiol benzoate or progesterone. Blood samples were taken immediately before and 6 h after these i.m. injections. At 78 h there were no significant differences in plasma LH concentration measured in the two groups of rats given progesterone or in the two groups given a second injection of oestradiol benzoate although for both MSG-treated and control rats progesterone produced a significantly (P less than 0.01) greater LH surge than did oestradiol benzoate. In experiment 2 100 ul blood samples were collected at 5-min intervals for up to 3 h from MSG-treated and control rats. For rats showing more than one pulsatile discharge of LH, peak and trough values for plasma LH concentrations were no significantly influenced by MSG treatment. However the mean pulse height was significantly (P less than 0.001) greater in the MSG-treated group than in control rats. Pulsatile release stopped more quickly in the MSG-treated rats and their mean plasma LH concentration after 120 min of blood sampling was significantly (P less than 0.05) lower than that obtained in the control animals. Thus, although some aspects of LH secretion seem to be significantly different in MSG-treated rats, these effects may result from the greater sensitivity of the MSG-treated animals to experimental manipulation.