Background: Monosodium glutamate (MSG) ranks among the most widely utilized food additives. Reports on its safety are conflicting, with some studies claiming safety and others noting deleterious health effects. The study objective was to evaluate whether MSG induces testicular toxicity and to determine if Lepidium meyenii has an ameliorative effect.
Methods: A total of forty adult male albino rats were randomly assigned to four equal groups: Group I (control), Group II (maca), Group III (MSG), and Group IV (MSG plus maca). All treatments were administered orally for six weeks. Blood samples were collected for hormonal and biochemical analyses. Testicular tissues were prepared and stained with H&E, trichrome, and caspase-3. Monosodium glutamate produced deleterious effects on rats’ testes as confirmed by a significant decrease in testosterone hormone (P < 0.01) and significantly disturbed oxidative stress indicators (TAC and MDA).
Results: Histologically, in the MSG group, widening of the spaces between seminiferous tubules, with apparent disorganization, was evident. Excessive collagen deposition was observed in trichrome-stained sections. Additionally, few interstitial Leydig cells, destruction of most germinal epithelium, and elevated caspase-3 immunostaining. Maca administration evidently improved the degenerative changes.
Conclusion: Monosodium glutamate induced significant degenerative changes, oxidative stress, and pronounced hormonal disturbance. Lepidium meyenii effectively attenuated hormonal, biochemical, and most histopathological alterations against MSG-induced testicular toxicity at the specific duration and dose investigated.