HOW MSG INDUCED NEURONAL DAMAGE WOULD LOOK LIKE?

MSG (Mono Sodium Glutamate) induced neuronal damage had been demonstrated in animal models since 1960's. Early scientists used electron microscopic features to reveal these facts, while newer technology enables us to see dead neuronal cells stained with illuminating propidium iodide on beautiful photographs (though they convey a sad story). Jennifer S. Xiong's team (2009) was able to capture disseminated dead bodies of mature neurons as below.

Figure 2

Analyze MSG damage of neurons by alive and dead staining. Cultured mouse cortical neurons were treated with different concentrations of MSG for 12h. Alive cells were stained with fluorescein diacetate. Dead cell were stained with propidium iodide. Increasing MSG doses decreased total number of live neurons (green) but increased total number of dead neurons (red). Same experiments were repeated 3 times. Scale bar: 40 µm.