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 ivermectin 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 ivermectin, 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) in all the parameters studied compared to the control. This result suggests that ivermectin may protect against MSG-induced excitotoxicity in rats