Glyphosate and a glyphosate-based herbicide induce fetal growth retardation in second-generation rat offspring.

LORENZ V; PACINI G; CADAVIZ DB; MILESI MM; VARAYOUD J

Simposio; International Symposium on Reproductive Health.; 2021

Epidemiological evidenceindicates that maternal exposure to pesticides is associated with stillbirth,altered birth weight or congenital defects. Glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs)are the pesticides most applied worldwide, and the effects of commercialformulations and its active ingredient glyphosate (Gly) on reproductive health ofpresent and future generations constitute a matter of global interest. We aimedto evaluate whether in utero andlactational exposure to Gly or a GBH induce growth alterations or congenitalanomalies in second-generation (F2) offspring. Gly or a GBH (2 mg ofglyphosate/kg/day) was administered to F0 pregnant rats through food from gestational day (GD) 9 until weaning. The serum levelsof Gly were determinedin F0 dams on GD22 and lactational day 21 by UHPLC-MS/MS. Sexuallymature F1 females became pregnant and onGD19, F2 fetuses were removed. Morphometric features of F2 offspring were examined:fetal weight, length and morphology, placental weight and placental index. Glyphosateserum levels in F0 dams were similar along the treatment, however, higherlevels of Gly were detected in GBH-exposed dams (p<0.05). F2 fetuses from Gly and GBH-exposed groups exhibited decreasedfetal weight and length. Higher occurrence of small for gestational age(SGA) F2 fetuses was observed in GBH (57,5%) andGly (45,4%) groups in comparison to controls (22%), denoting a delayed growth.The relative risk of being SGA was 2.62 [95% CI (1.70,4.02); p < 0.001] for GBH F2 fetuses and 2.06 [95% CI (1.33, 3.20);p < 0.001] for Gly F2 fetuses. Althoughno changes in placental weight were detected, anincrease in placental index was observed in Gly group. No structural congenitalanomalies were observed. Both Gly and GBH induced multigenerationaleffects evidenced by fetal growth retardation. Differences between GBH and Glyeffects could indicate particular mechanisms of action of commercialformulation and active ingredient.