Abstract

Glutamate is a main component of Monosodium Glutamate. It is excitatory neurotransmitter but it leads to excitotoxicity in brain nerve cells when consumed in large doses. It also has negative impact in learning ability and memory. The aim of this study is to determine exercise effect in protecting learning ability and memorycaused by MSG exposure. This study used pretest-posttest control group design and was conducted in Animal Laboratory of Faculty of Medicine Airlangga University in November 2015. Thirty mice males were tested for learning ability and memory using Morris Water Maze before and after treatment. They were divided into three groups, they are one control group/K (without treatment) and two treatment group were given different treatment for 21 days. Group P1 was given 2,5 mg/gBW MSG intraperitoneal injection, group P2 was given 2,5 mg/gBW MSG intraperitoneal injection and swimming exercise with a span of 30 minutes/day on 5 days/week for 3 weeks with a load individual 4% of body weight. The result showed latency time and frequency between pretest and posttest group at P1 group there is no significant difference either in latent or frequency while P2 was a significant difference of latency time (p=0,010) but no significant difference of frequency (p=0,645). Our study suggested that exercise (swimming) can protect learning ability caused by MSG exposure, but not protect memory retention.