Glyphosate herbicide: endocrine disrupting properties and molecular mechanisms impairing female reproductive outcomes

LORENZ, VIRGINIA; MILESI, MARÍA M.; VARAYOUD, JORGELINA

Londres

Congreso; 3° Edition of World Congress on Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism conference; 2022

Innovinc International

Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) are the most used pesticides in the world and are mainly applied to GBH-tolerant crop varieties. Glyphosate (Gly), the active ingredient of all GBHs, has been detected in all environmental matrixes and in foodstuff, including soy-based infant formulas, posing a risk to fauna, wild flora and human population. GBHs are composed of Gly and undisclosed components, known as co-formulants, which facilitate and enhance herbicide action. International regulatory agencies stated that there was not enough evidence to support endocrine disrupting properties of Gly. In recent years, growing data indicate that both Gly and its formulations may disrupt normal endocrine function in different species. In this context, some countries and certain cities autonomously have decided to ban the use of the herbicide. In the present work, we evaluated wether Gly and/or a GBH commercial formulation could disrupt female fertility and also, affect fetal and placental development. Assays were carried out to evaluate the reproductive performance and feto-placental parameters and to elucidate the mechanisms of action of the herbicide. Wistar female rats were exposed to Gly or GBH during a high sensitivity period of life (perinatal period), and the effects were evaluated at adulthood. Different endocrine disrupting endpoints and epigenetic markers in uterine tissue were tested. Gly and GBH produce female subfertility by impairing the implantation process, and induce fetal growth retardation in their offspring. Both treatments alter hormone levels and endocrine-dependent gene expression involved in uterine functional differentiation, in association with epigenetic dysregulation. Finally, we provide evidence of the endocrine disrupting properties and adverse reproductive outcomes of the herbicide. Similar results were shown after Gly and GBH, suggesting that the active principle might be responsible for the adverse effects. Human epidemiological studies should be considered of high priority to assess possible deleterious effects of this herbicide on human health.