[Influence of monosodium glutamate consumption by albino rats during pregnancy and lactation on their offspring].

The consequences of dietary intake of significant amounts of monosodium glutamate (MSG) are the excess body weight; structural and functional disorders of the central nervous system, liver, kidneys. We have not found information about the influence of excessive using of the MSG by a woman during pregnancy and lactation on the fetus and infants. The aim of the study was the experimental evaluation of the MSG consumption consequences during pregnancy and lactation to the offspring health. Material and methods. The offspring of 3-month old pregnant female white Wistar rats, who received 1% MSG solution (200 mg per kg of body weight per day) ad libitum as the source of liquid during the pregnancy and lactation, have been studied (MSG group). The control group included offspring of pregnant female rats that received water as the source of liquid. In 25-day-old offspring histological examination and morphometry of the nucleo-nucleolar apparatus of neurons in the neocortex of the proper parietal lobe, cardiomyocytes of the subendocardial zones of the left and right ventricles have been performed. Gravimetry have been also carried out (body weight and weight of brain, heart, liver, kidney, thymus and spleen); mitotic activity of anterior corneal epithelium has been evaluated, the state of erythrocyte membranes have been analyzed by the method of acid erythrograms; behavioral tests "Open field", "The elevated plus-maze test", "Hanging on a horizontal wire" have been performed. Results. MSG consumption during pregnancy and lactation led to an increase of brain (by 19.1%) and kidneys (by 7.8%) relative masses; masses of thymus and spleen were decreased. Significant decrease of locomotor activity and increase of time of hanging in "horizontal wire test" were registered. A histological study showed an increase in the number of nucleoli in the neurons of the V layer of the neocortex of the proper parietal lobe (control - 1.56±0.09; MSG group - 1.81±0.07, р=0.03); decrease of the nucleolar parameters of cardiomyocytes; increase of mitotic activity of anterior corneal epithelium (control - 4.021±0.612‰; MSG group - 6.985±0.889‰, р=0.019). A decrease of the resistance of erythrocyte membranes to acid hemolysis was also registered. Conclusion. The results obtained indicate the effect of oral consumption of MSG food additive during pregnancy and lactation on the organism of the offspring.

Cytoprotective Effect of Peptide Sedatin, an Agonist of µ/δ-Opioid Receptors, on Primary Culture of Pulmonary Fibroblasts of Albino Rats under Conditions of Oxidative Stress.

We studied the effects of a synthetic analogue of dermorphin peptide sedatin on DNA synthesis, nucleolar apparatus, and parameters of free radical oxidation in the primary culture of pulmonary fibroblasts under conditions of oxidative stress. Oxidative stress significantly enhanced production of superoxide anion radical in the culture, sufficiently inhibited DNA synthesis in fibroblasts, and reduced the size of cell nuclei and parameters of the nucleolar apparatus. Sedatin prevented accumulation of free radical oxidation products and changes in karyometry parameters induced by oxidative stress. The peptide completely eliminated changes in the parameters of fibroblast nucleolar apparatus and abolished the inhibitory effect of oxidative stress on the number of DNA-synthesizing cells. Pretreatment with non-selective opioid receptor antagonist naloxone hydrochloride partially abolished the effects of sedatin in the primary culture of pulmonary fibroblasts.