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EXPERIMENTAL DEMONSTRATION OF HYPERALGESIA INDUCED BY REPEATED INGESTION OF DIETARY MONOSODIUM GLUTAMATE

ANCA BUZESCU, SIMONA NEGREȘ^*, OANA CĂLIN, CORNEL CHIRIȚĂ

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Hyperalgesia and allodynia are symptoms of serious pathologies such as neuropathic pain, diabetic neuropathy, rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis. These symptoms depend, in part, on the stimulation of glutamatergic receptors, which activates glutamatergic signaling nociceptive pathways. Glutamic acid (as sodium salt) is regulated in the European Union as a flavouring agent (coded as E 621). Through repeated use, a food addictive behaviour develops, leading to the abuse of food containing E 621. In this study, we established if monosodium glutamate, after repeated oral administration, can activate and sensitize glutamatergic receptors in pain pathways, inducing hyperalgesia. Our experiments were performed on young adult NMRI mice, using the Hot Plate test (Ugo Basile). Our results showed significant changes in the thresholds of pain perception and reaction, even at monosodium glutamate (MSG) dose levels matching those the humans receive as additive, through dietary intake.