Effect of diltiazem on the changes induced by monosodium glutamate in the ovary of adult rats: histological and immunohistochemical study

Introduction: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a popular taste enhancer that is used widely. It has been reported that MSG is toxic to human and experimental animals.Aim of the study: To investigate the histological and immunohistochemical effects of MSG on the ovary and to study the possible role of diltiazem (L-calcium channel blocker) in the prevention of these effects in adult female rats.Materials and Methods: Thirty adult female albino rats were used and divided into three groups: control; treated; and prophylactic. The control group received fixed amounts of grower s marsh without adding MSG daily for 14 days. The treated group was given 6 g of MSG daily thoroughly mixed with equal amount of feeds (grower s marsh) for 14 days. In addition to MSG, the prophylactic group was given diltiazem daily dissolved in water by an oro-gastric tube (5 mg/g body weight) for 14 days. The rats were sacrificed on day 15 of the experiment. The ovaries were processed for histological and immunohistochemical reaction for induced nitric oxide synthase.Results: The ovary of the MSG-treated group had some atretic follicles and vacuolated stromal cells arranged in clusters. The other types of follicles were distorted, showing a degenerated oocyte surrounded by disorganized cells of follicular granulosa cells with darkly stained nuclei and vacuolated theca folliculi cells. There was a significant decrease in the number of ovarian follicles and a significant increase in the optical density of induced nitric oxide synthase reaction in the treated group compared with the control group. In the diltiazem-prophylactic group, there was an improvement in the histological and immunohistochemical changes.Conclusion: Diltiazem had a protective effect on the histological and immunohistochemical changes caused by MSG toxicity in the ovary of adult rats