Effects of in utero and lactational exposure to glyphosate or its commercial formulation on pregnancy outcomes in rats.

CADAVIZ FERNÁNDEZ D.B; LORENZ, V; PACINI G; GASTIAZORO M.P. ; DURANDO M.L; LUQUE E.H; VARAYOUD J.; MILESI M.M

Simposio; International Federation of Placenta Associations 2019 (IFPA2019) - 8th Latin American Symposium on Maternal-Fetal Interaction and Placenta (VIII SLIMP).; 2019

Epidemiological studies have shown a close correlation between environmental and/or occupational exposure to pesticides and adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as, decreased fertility, miscarriages, stillbirth, low birth weight or birth defects. Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) are the most globally used herbicides, and the toxicity of commercial formulations vs. glyphosate alone (active principle) is a matter of intense debate. The present study investigates the effects of perinatal exposure to glyphosate (Gly) or a commercial formulation on female fertility and fetal development. Pregnant rats (F0) were orally exposed to Gly or a GBH through food, in a dose of 2 mg of glyphosate/kg/day (RfD, EPA), from gestational day (GD) 9 until weaning (lactational day 21). Glyphosate levels were measured in the serum of F0 dams during gestation and lactation by UHPLC?MS/MS. Sexually mature F1 females were submitted to a fertility test to evaluate the pregnancy rates, and on GD19, the number of corpora lutea and the implantation and resorption sites. To analyze transgenerational effects on the F2 offspring development, we evaluated the fetal weight, length and morphology, and the placental weight. Glyphosate serum concentrations in F0 dams were similar over the treatment period, and lower levels were detected in Gly with respect to GBH group (Control: no detected; Gly: 13.4 ± 2.3 ug/L, GBH: 38.7 ± 5.6 ug/L, p