Effects of monosodium glutamate on heart beat and the embryonic development of zebrafish

Abstract

The effect of monosodium glutamate (MSG) on zebrafish, Danio rerio, embryo was investigated at different concentrations of ten-fold dilution of ten times lesser than the median lethal concentration (LC50). Zebrafish embryos in the MSG treated groups (40,000 ppm and 80,000 ppm) reached highest mortality rate at 100 % within 48 hpf and 96 hpf which is significantly different (p<0.05) from negative control group. According to the Probit analysis, the LC50 of MSG on zebrafish embryo at 48 hpf and 96 hpf were 15,200 ppm and 10,300 ppm, respectively. Under the observation, effects based on the toxicity endpoint composed of lethal, sublethal and malformation effects appeared within 144 hpf. Exposure to MSG at 1,500 ppm and 150 ppm significantly produced sublethal effects and malformation development to zebrafish embryo. MSG induced cardiotoxic effects in zebrafish embryo was observed at 15, 150 and 1,500 ppm. Our results demonstrate that zebra fish embryo is a good model for the detection of toxic potential of chemical substances. Also, our data suggest the need to reconsider the safety of MSG and elucidate its mechanism of adverse reaction in further studies.