Ivermectin Protects against Monosodium Glutamate-Induced Excitotoxicity in the Rat

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), an established excitotoxic food additive, has been found to induce oxidative stress in all tissues. To examine the protective effects of ivennectin on MSG-induced excitotoxicity, 28 male albino rats were randomized into four groups. Group 1, the control, received 1 ml of oral distilled water, group 2 was administered an aqueous solution of MSG (4 mg/kg body weight/day). Group 3 was co-administered with the same dose of MSG and 0.4 mg/kg body weight of ivennectin, while group 4 rats received orally the same dose of MSG for 2 weeks, after which ivermectin was administered orally for 1 week Administration of MSG orally for 21 days and for 14 days, followed by oral administration of ivermectin for 7 days, significantly increased (p < 0.05) glutathione-S-transferase, nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase and catalase activities as well as malondialdehyde and intracellular Ca2+ concentrations while Na+ - K+-ATPase, Ca2+ - Mg2+ - ATPase, acid phosphatase (ACP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) compared to the controL However, co-administration of MSG and ivennectin for 21 days did not show any significant difference (p > 0.05) in all the parameters studied compared to the control. This result suggests that ivermectin may protect against MSG-induced excitotoxicity in rats.