In addition, the administration of MSG in rodents produces selective neuronal necrosis within the preoptic and arcuate
nuclei of the hypothalamus as well as in the median eminence.In this study we investigated the development of depression- and anxiety-related behaviors in young rats which were exposed to subcutaneous injection of MSG in the postnatal period. The involvement of the serotonergic system (by measuring the [3H]5-HT uptake in rat cerebral cortices) and the contribution of HPA axis deregulation (by determining serum ACTH and corticosterone levels) were also examined.