NEONATAL EXPOSURE TO A GLYPHOSATE-BASED HERBICIDE ALTERS THE OVIDUCTAL DIFFERENTIATION OF PREPUBERTAL EWE LAMBS

ALARCÓN R.; LOVERA LOURDES; ALEGRE ANA L.; INGARAMO P; RIVERA, OSCAR; DIOGUARDI, GISELA; MUÑÓZ DE TORO M; LUQUE E

Congreso; Reunión Conjunta SAIC SAI SAFIS Noviembre 2022; 2022

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are extensively used in Argentinaand abroad. In the beginning, GBHs were declared safe, butmany publications in recent years have reported their harmful healtheffects. We reported the adverse effects of neonatal exposure of ewelambs to GBH on ovarian and uterine development. Here, consideringoviduct is essential for fertility, we aimed to evaluate the GBHeffects on oviduct development of neonatally exposed ewe lambs.To this, crossbreed (Corriedale x Hampshire down) ewe lambs receivedorally, from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND14, GBH (1 mg/Kg/day of glyphosate, n=8) or saline solution (vehicle, n=12). OnPND45, we performed the salpingectomy, and oviductal weight andlength were measured. Later, we collected and processed ampullarand isthmic sections for both RT-PCR and histology analysis. Nochanges in oviductal weight or length were found. Luminal epithelialheight, number of glands, and myosalpinx thickness were evaluatedusing Picrosirius-Hematoxylin staining; all animals showed similarresults. Proliferative activity was assessed by immunodetection ofKi67. In GBH-exposed animals, higher cell proliferation was observedin the luminal epithelium and the subepithelial stroma of theampullar region, but no changes were observed in the different compartmentsof the isthmus. Expression of molecules involved in cellproliferation and oviductal development [steroid receptors (ESR1and PR) and IGF molecules (IGF-1 and -2, IGF-1R, IGFBP5)] weredetermined by RT-PCR. No altered expression of evaluated geneswas observed in the isthmus nor the ampulla. Since cell proliferationis controlled through different pathways, further studies are necessaryto identify the molecules involved. Deregulation of proliferativestatus might affect tissue homeostasis and development, with consequenceson oviduct functionality and reproductive health.