Abstract

The potential of varying doses of monosodium glutamate (MSG) at altering the functional capacity of the prostate, and the possible role of increasing the concentration of either MSG or distilled water (DW) on such alteration were examined. To achieve these, adult male Wistar rats were treated daily and orally with MSG (5 and 10 mg/kg of body weight (BW)) and DW (1 and 2 ml/kg BW). After 28 days of treatment, the tested doses of MSG significantly elevated the serum total acid phosphatase (TAP) and prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) activities. Increasing the concentration of either DW or MSG elicited a quantitative but opposing influence on the serum TAP and PAP activities. Thus, medium-term ingestion of MSG might adversely alter the functional capacity of the prostate. The health implication of the alteration could be compounded by the opposing response elicited by increasing the concentration of either MSG or DW.

Key words: Monosodium glutamate, total acid phosphatase, prostatic acid phosphatase, prostate cancer, prostatitis, benign prostate hyperplasia, infertility.

Abbreviation

BW, Body weight; MSG, monosodium glutamate; DW, distilled water; TAP, total acid phosphatase; PAP, prostatic acid phosphatase; ANOVA,one-way analysis of variance; PSA, prostate specific antigen; BPH, benign prostatic hyperplasia; ADP, adenosine di-phosphate; ATP, adenosine tri-phosphate.