SUMMARY:

This study aims to demonstrate the existence of morphological variations in the connective tissue of the submandibular gland of obese rats exposed to MSG. Twelve male newborn Sprague Dawley rats were used (6 rats for group 1, control; 6 rats for group 2 (MSG), 4 mg/g of monosodium glutamate of weight (5 doses) maintained for 16 weeks respectively with a diet and water ad libitum. In the study, a stereological and histological analysis was carried out, demonstrating a variation in the connective tissue, presenting a decrease in the glandular volume, greater fibrosis, and a decrease in adipocytes at the peripheral level, being replaced by tissue rich in collagen. Blood cells observed at the stereological level do not present major changes in terms of volume, surface and area, but in the histological study greater vascularization is observed.