MSG, a non-essential amino acid, widely used in food industry, has been the target of research because of its highly toxic potential. A study from Kizer et al. (1977) demonstrated that the neurotoxic effect of MSG is more embracing to the neonatal period due to the immature blood–brain barrier; besides this effect seems to be dose-dependent. With agreement with Kizer et al. (1977) our data indicated that MSG crossed the blood–brain barrier given that this experimental protocol
caused anxiogenic- and depressive-like behaviors in rats