In recent years, the sense of equilibrium began to receive a significant attention due to serious motion sickness derived from a high speed and frequency vehicles with the development of civilization. In aerospace age, many studies have been in progress about the equilibrium and spatial orientation under weightless conditions. This article focused on explaining vestibular anatomy and physiology. Furthermore, we tried to put the accent on introducing the role of vestibular system that is responsible for equilibrium of the body in spatial orientation.
Civilization ; Motion Sickness ; Orientation ; Sodium Glutamate

Intravitreal and intraperitoneal administrations of sodium L-glutamate induced the retinal degenerations in adult rabbits. Electroretiongram was completely extinguished by the intravitreal injection of glutamate (50mg in 0.1ml) followed by slight recovery. The retina showed marked thinning with almost diffuse degeneration in all retinal layers. Intraperitoneal injection of a sigle large dose of glutamate(8g/Kg) produced moderate reduction in the amplitudes of a-and b-waves with degenerative changes in the retina, mainly involving the inner layers and the periphery of the fundus, parallel to the ERG changes. Administrations of small doses (2.5g/Kg and 5.0g/Kg) for 7 days induced moderate reduction in the a-and b-waves with slight histological changes, especially marked in the inner layers of the retina. Possible mechanisms of the toxic effects of glutamate were discussed.
Adult ; Glutamic Acid ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Intravitreal Injections ; Rabbits* ; Retina* ; Retinal Degeneration ; Retinaldehyde ; Sodium Glutamate* ; Sodium*

The role of food additives in chronic urticaria (CU) is still under investigation. In this study, we aimed to explore the association between food additives and CU by using the basophil activation test (BAT). The BAT using 15 common food additives was performed for 15 patients with CU who had a history of recurrent urticarial aggravation following intake of various foods without a definite food-specific IgE. Of the 15 patients studied, two (13.3%) showed positive BAT results for one of the tested food additives. One patient responded to monosodium glutamate, showing 18.7% of CD203c-positive basophils. Another patient showed a positive BAT result to sodium benzoate. Both patients had clinical correlations with the agents, which were partly determined by elimination diets. The present study suggested that at least a small proportion of patients with CU had symptoms associated with food additives. The results may suggest the potential utility of the BAT to identity the role of food additives in CU.
Basophils* ; Diet ; Food Additives* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E ; Sodium Benzoate ; Sodium Glutamate ; Urticaria*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Lactobacillus brevis G101 suppresses the absorption of monosodium glutamate (MSG) from the intestine into the blood in mice. Therefore, the attenuating effect of orally administered G101 on monosodium glutamate (MSG) symptom complex was investigated in humans. MATERIALS/METHODS: Capsules (300 mg) containing Lactobacillus brevis G101 (1x1010 CFU/individual) or maltodextrin (placebo) was orally administered in 30 respondents with self-recognized monosodium glutamate (MSG) symptom complex for 5 days and the rice with black soybean sauce containing 6 g MSG (RBSM) was ingested 30 min after the final administration. Thereafter, the MSG symptom complex (rated on a 5-point scale: 1, none; 5, strong) was investigated in a double blind placebo controlled study. The intensity of the MSG symptom complex was significantly reduced in respondents of the G101 intake group (2.87 +/- 0.73) compared to that in those treated with the placebo (3.63 +/- 1.03) (P = 0.0016). Respondents in the placebo group exhibited more of the various major conditions of the MSG symptom complex than in the G101 intake group. Although there was no significant difference in the appearance time of the MSG symptom complex between subjects orally administered G101 and those administered the placebo, its disappearance in < 3 h was observed in 69.9% of subjects in the G101 treatment group and in 38.0% of subjects in the placebo group (P = 0.0841). CONCLUSIONS: Oral administration of Lactobacillus brevis G101 may be able to reduce the intensity of the MSG symptom complex.
Absorption ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Capsules ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Humans ; Intestines ; Lactobacillus brevis* ; Lactobacillus* ; Mice ; Sodium Glutamate* ; Soybeans

The purpose of this study was to investigate the parents' perceptions of children's favorite foods. Mothers of elementary school students in Seoul were asked in a survey about their perceptions of children's favorite foods and their opinions of the related policy. Respondents pointed out the problems of children's favorite foods including insufficient sanitation, concerns with food additives, untrustworthy manufacturer, unsafe food distribution system and overuse of MSG. Overall hazardous perceptions of children's favorite foods were 2.71 out of 4.00. Most respondents believed that the children's favorite foods contained some harmful ingredients or over nutrients, and 69.2% of those respondents knew exactly which ingredients may cause children's health problems. The hazardous perception of chocolate, yogurt, sport drink and fruit drink were low compared to others, whereas hazardous perceptions and accuracy were high in candies, icebars, hamburgers and pizza, In terms of comprehensive countermeasures against unsafe children's foods, the respondents perceived that the establishment of standard amounts of nutrient value and food additives was the most important issue.
Cacao ; Candy ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Food Additives ; Fruit ; Humans ; Mothers ; Sanitation ; Sodium Glutamate ; Sports ; Yogurt

The purpose of this study was to investigate the perception and use of flavor enhancer products. This study was carried out through questionnaire and the subjects were 503 housewives in Inchon. The results are summarized as follows. As for age, 51.9% of the subjects were 40 years or older. Also, 60.0% of the subjects had received a high school education. As for occupation, full-time housewives accounted for 63.7%. Monthly household income of most subjects were 1 million won or more, and monthly food expenses of most subjects were 300 thousand won or more. Also 71.0% of subjects lived in apartments. As for taste of flavor enhancer products, 58.3% of subjects perceived that it was mediocre, 31.3% said good, 6.2% said bad, and 1.8% said very bad. Most subjects perceived that the convenience of flavor enhancer products was good and there was a significant difference among the groups divided by education level. As for economy of flavor enhancer products, there were significant differences among groups divided by household income and food expenses. Most subjects perceived that the safety of flavor enhancer products was not good. Most subjects considered the date of manufacture, manufacturers, food additives, packaging and price when they purchased flavor enhancer products. Also, 70.0% of subjects were going to reduce the amount of flavor enhancer products they use in the future. Most subjects needed flavor enhancer products good for health. Therefore, it may be necessary to develop and to produce safe, nutritious, tasty, cheap and various flavor enhancer products.
Education ; Family Characteristics ; Food Additives ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Nucleotides ; Occupations ; Product Packaging ; Sodium Glutamate ; Surveys and Questionnaires

OBJECTIVETo explore mechanisms of acupuncture for reducing of body weight.

METHODSThe rat obesity model was developed by subcutaneous injection of sodium glutamate solution, and the experimental rats were divided into a blank control group, a model group, an electroacupuncture group and a sibutramine group; blood TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C contents and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity, and serum leptin and insulin levels were determined.

RESULTSThe body weight and Lee's index, and TG, TC and LDL-C contents in the electroacupuncture group decreased significantly as compared with those in the model group (all P<0.01), the actions in the electroacupuncture group being superior to those in the sibutramine group; the HDL-C contents in both the electroacupuncture and the sibutramine groups were higher than that of the model group (P<0.01) with no significant difference between the electroacupuncture group and the sibutramine group; LPL activity in the electroacupuncture group increased significantly as compared with that in the model group (P<0.01); serum leptin and insulin levels in both the electroacupuncture group and the sibutramine group were lower than that in the model group (P<0.05, P<0.01), with no significant difference between the electroacupuncture group and the sibutramine group in the effect on insulin content, and the decrease of leptin level in the electroacupuncture group was more as compared with the sibutramine group (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONElectroacupuncture can improve the status of high blood lipids, increase lipoprotein lipase activity, and regulate serum leptin and insulin levels in the obestic rat.

Acupuncture Points ; Animals ; Electroacupuncture ; Humans ; Lipids ; blood ; Obesity ; metabolism ; Rats ; Sodium Glutamate

In order to characterize the role of sympathetic activity in obesity, we repeatedly assessed sympathetic activity via power spectral analyses of heart rate variability in the same subjects at 7, 11, 25, and 60 weeks, using monosodium glutamate (MSG)-induced obese and control rats. The effects of lower sympathetic activity on obesity were also evaluated. Fat mass in MSG rats was already higher at 7 weeks, but the sympathetic activity did not differ between 7 and 25 weeks. Between 25 and 60 weeks, the increase in fat mass, food efficiency, and body weight gain was higher in MSG rats. The increase in sympathetic activity between 25 and 60 weeks and sympathetic activity at 60 weeks were lower in MSG rats. Fat mass at 60 weeks was inversely correlated with changes in sympathetic activity between 25 and 60 weeks. Reduced plasma epinephrine levels by bilateral adrenal demedullation induced increase of fat mass. In summary, an attenuated increase of sympathetic activity with age may partly be responsible for aggravated obesity in MSG rats. Additionally, reduced sympathetic activity per se induced obesity in rats. These results suggest that lower sympathetic activity contributes to obesity in rats.
Animals ; Body Weight ; Epinephrine ; Guanethidine ; Heart Rate ; Obesity* ; Plasma ; Rats* ; Sodium Glutamate*

AIMTo investigate the protective effect of mGluR1 antisense oligonucleotides and mGluR5 antisense oligonucleotides on impairment of cultured mouse cerebral cortical neurons induced by sodium glutamate (Glu).

METHODSNeuron damage induced by Glu as well as the action of mGluR1 antisense oligonucleotides and mGluR5 antisense oligonucleotides were measured by determining the leakage of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) from neurons. Immunocytochemistry method was used to detect the expression of anti-mGluRl a and anti-mGluR5. Morphological changes of primary cortical neurons were observed by phase contrast microscope.

RESULTSFollowing the exposure of the cells to 0.1 mmol x L(-1) Glu for 15 min, LDH leakage from neurons increased. mGluR1 antisense oligonucleotides and mGluR5 antisense oligonucleotides(6 or 8 micromol x L(-1)) as well as 50 micromol x L(-1) LY367385 reduced the LDH leakage. mGluR1alpha and mGluR5 immunopositive cells showed in cultured neurons.

CONCLUSIONThe protective effects of mGluR1 antisense oligonucleotides and mGluR5 antisense oligonucleotides on neurons damaged by Glu may relate to antagonizing mGluR1a or mGItlR5.

Animals ; Cells, Cultured ; Cerebral Cortex ; cytology ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred Strains ; Neurons ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Neuroprotective Agents ; pharmacology ; Oligonucleotides, Antisense ; Receptors, Metabotropic Glutamate ; genetics ; Sodium Glutamate ; toxicity

Glutamate is an amino acid neurotransmitter capable of producing widespread receptor-mediated neuronal excitation. In this experiment, we examined the effect of saline, monosodium glutamate (MSG), phenylalanine and MSG-phenylalanine treatment on TH immunoreactivity in area postrema (AP) of medulla oblangata. An immunocytochemical method was used to visualize catecholaminergic neurons in the AP. Damage of TH neurons in the AP of adult Sprague-Dawley rats was induced by injection of MSG (4 mg/g bw) and was decreased by administration of MSG following phenylalanine treatment (15 mg/g bw). We conclude that phenylalanine protect from the neuroexcitotoxic effect of systemic glutamate.
Adult ; Animals ; Area Postrema* ; Glutamic Acid ; Humans ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Phenylalanine* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Sodium Glutamate*