Introduction: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a popularly used taste enhancer. MSG proved to cause many degenerative diseases and oxidative damages. Vitamin C has an antioxidant property.
Aim: This work aimed to study the possible protective role of vitamin C against Monosodium glutamate induced structural changes of the adrenal cortex.
Material and Methods: Forty-five adult male albino rats were used in this study, aged from 4-6 months and weighting 180-200 Kg. Animals were divided into three equal groups. Group I: It was composed of fifteen rats and was further subdivided into three equal subgroups; Subgroup IA: included 5 rats that kept as negative control. Subgroup IB: included 5 rats that received 1ml of distilled water for 8 weeks and Subgroup IC included 5 rats that received vitamin C in a dose of 0.3 mg/Kg body weight /day for 8 weeks. Group II: It included fifteen adult male rats that received 4mg/Kg body weight/ day of MSG for 8 weeks. Group III: It included fifteen rats that received MSG as in group II and vitamin C in a dose of 0.3 mg/Kg body weight /day for 8 weeks.
Results: The present study revealed that MSG induced histological changes of adrenal cortex in the form of disorganized structure of zona glomerulosa and zona fasciculata with increased accumulation of the cytoplasmic droplets and thinning of the capsule. Group III that received vitamin C revealed evident improvement of these changes.
Conclusion: Monosodium glutamate led to histoarchitectural changes of adrenal cortex. However, vitamin C greatly improved such changes.