| Abstract [eng] |
Monosodium glutamate (MSG) is a widely used flavor enhancer commonly found in processed and convenience foods. As consumption of flavor enhanced products continues to increase worldwide, growing attention has been directed toward the potential effects of MSG on reward related behavior, feeding patterns, and physiological responses. While most previous studies have focused on mammalian models, invertebrates such as cockroaches provide a practical alternative for behavioral research due to their conserved neurotransmitter pathways. The aim of this study was to investigate whether chronic exposure to monosodium glutamate (MSG) influences reward related and preference driven behaviors in the cockroach Blaberus giganteus. Cockroaches were exposed to control (water), 1 %, 4 %, and 8 % MSG solutions during a 10-day exposure period. Locomotor activity, fluid consumption, and body mass changes were monitored throughout the experiment. Behavioral responses were subsequently evaluated using Y-maze assays and a two-capillary preference test. A pilot experiment using sucrose as a positive control confirmed that the Y-maze setup was capable of detecting preference driven behavior in B. giganteus. The results demonstrated that higher MSG concentrations, particularly 4 % and 8 %, significantly reduced locomotor activity, fluid consumption, and body mass compared to the control group. However, Y-maze assays and preference tests did not reveal statistically significant attraction toward MSG containing stimuli. No significant differences were observed in time spent in maze arms, visit frequency or preference index values between treatment groups. It was concluded that chronic MSG exposure primarily induces concentration dependent physiological and behavioral alterations rather than reward related or conditioned preference responses in B. giganteus. |
