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.