Neonatal monosodium glutamate (MSG) administration increases adiposity, decreases energy expenditure and is associated with arcuate nucleus (Arc) destruction. Disrupted brown adipose tissue (BAT) thermogenesis underlies some of these effects, although, interscapular BAT temperature (T(IBAT)) has not been measured. Therefore, we tested the effects of neonatal MSG or vehicle administration in Siberian hamsters and, when they were adults, measured T(IBAT) during acute cold exposure. The Arc and its projection to the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVH) are both components of the CNS outflow circuits to IBAT, with the latter implicated in BAT thermogenesis that could be compromised by MSG treatment. Using a viral transneuronal tract tracer, pseudorabies virus (PRV), we also tested whether the components of these circuits were intact. As adults, MSG-treated hamsters had significantly increased body mass and some white fat pad masses, markedly reduced Arc Nissl and neuropeptide staining, and PVH neuropeptide fiber staining. Cold-exposed (18 h at 5 degrees C) MSG- and vehicle-treated hamsters initially maintained T(IBAT), but the ability of the former waned after 2 h being significantly decreased by 18 h. PRV immunoreactive fibers/cells were not altered by neonatal MSG treatment despite substantial Arc and PVH destruction. MSG- and vehicle-treated hamsters given an exogenous norepinephrine challenge showed identical increases in the duration and peak of T(IBAT). Thus, the inability of MSG-treated animals to sustain T(IBAT) in the cold is not due to any obvious MSG-induced deletions of central sympathetic outflow circuits to IBAT, but appears to be extrinsic to the tissue nevertheless.