Monosodium glutamate-induced follicular atresia and the ameliorative role of Allium sativum in Albino Wistar rats

Food and environmental toxins have increased female infertility in recent years. Dietary monosodium glutamate is ovotoxic. Allium sativum is reputed for its great therapeutic value. Based on this premise, this study attempted to evaluate Allium sativum's potential protective or ameliorative function in the adverse effect of monosodium glutamate-induced ovarian toxicity. Twenty-five female Wistar rats (150-200g) were utilized for this study. The experimental rats following acclimatization were assigned into five groups, A-E (n=5). The control as placebo received 0.03mL saline for 28 days. Monosodium glutamate (4mg/kg) solution was administered to rats in groups B-E for 14 days. Following that, groups C and D received 200 mg/kg and 500 mg/kg of Allium sativum ethanolic extract respectively, while group E received 200 mg/kg of Vitamin C for 14 days respectively. Administrations were via the orogastric route. Data were analyzed by One-way ANOVA and mean comparisons done by the Student Neuman-Keul’s test. Graph pad Prism version 5.1 was used for analysis, pvalues ? 0.05 were considered statistically significant. The administration of monosodium glutamate in the monosodium glutamate-only group (group B) showed a significant (p=0.05) increase in the number of atretic follicles as compared to Allium sativum treated groups and control. Administration of monosodium glutamate resulted in a high level of ovarian histological derangement and loss of glycogen components which was ameliorated by Allium sativum extract treatments, however dose-dependent. Allium sativum demonstrated dosedependent ameliorative potentials as evident in its role in remedying the damage caused by monosodium glutamate-induced follicular atresia, ovarian histological derangement, and glycogen degradation.

Key Words: Ovarian toxicity; Allium sativum; Histomorphometry; Monosodium glutamate; follicular atresia