Potent protective effect of ferulic acid on glutamate-induced neurotoxicity in adult mice

Objective To investigate a possible protective effect of sodium ferulate (SF) on monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced neurotoxicity in adult mice. Methods Sixty mice were randomly divided into control, SF, MSG, and MSG+SF [20,40,80mg/(kg·d)] groups, n=10. The animals in MSG group received intragastric (ig) administration of MSG (2.0g/(kg·d)], the animals in the MSG+SF groups received simultaneously ig administration of MSG [2.0 g/(kg·d)] and intraperitoneal (ip) administration of SF [20,40,80mg/(kg·d)], the animals in SF group received ip administration of SF [40mg/ (kg·d)], and the animals in control group received ig and ip administration of normal saline, respectively, once-daily for 10d. On day 1 after the last ig administration of MSG or (and) SF the behavioural tests (test of Y-maze discrimination learning and open field test) were performed, and on day 4 after the treatment of MSG or (and) SF the histopathology of the animal brains was studied to analyze the MSG-induced functional and morphological changes and the possible protective effect of SF. Results The correct responses of Y-maze test on day 6 after the last administration of MSG and/or SF in MSG-treated group (13.83/20) were significantly less than those in control (16.42/20)(P 0.05). Examination of histopathology displayed MSG-treated hippocampal lesions characterized by intracellular edema, degeneration and necrosis of neurons, and hyperplasia, and the hippocampal lesion did not appear in the MSG [2.0g/(kg·d)]+SF[40mg/(kg·d)]-treated mice. Conclusions SF partially countered the behavior disorders and hippocampal lesions induced by MSG; therefor, SF has a potent neuroprotection against MSG-induced neurotoxicity in adult mice. Key words: Excitatory amino acids;  Neurotoxicity;  Neuroprotection;  Ferulic acid