Developmental exposure to a glyphosate based herbicide alters uterine organogenetic differentiation causing hyperplasia on prepubertal rats

GUERRERO SCHIMPF M; MILESI MM; INGARAMO P; MUÑOZ DE TORO M; LUQUE EH; VARAYOUD J

Congreso; 11th SETAC Latin America Biennial Meeting "The role of science in environmental decision-making"; 2015

Associated with a constant increase in the use of transgenic glyphosate-resistant soybean, glyphosate based herbicides (GBH) are extensively used in Argentina. Experimental studies performed in rodents have associated developmental exposure to GBH with male reproductive toxicity; however, little is known regarding its effects on female reproductive system. This study investigates the effects of neonatal exposure to a GBH on uterine morphology, endometrial proliferation and expression of proteins that regulate uterine organogenetic differentiation in rats. Female pups received saline solution (control, C) or an environmental relevant dose of commercial formulation of glyphosate (GBH, 2 mg/kg) by s.c. injection in the nape of the neck every 48 h from postnatal day (PND) 1 to PND7. The uterine expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ERa), progesterone receptor (PR), Hoxa10, Wnt7a and Ki-67 was detected by immunohistochemistry on PND8 and PND21, to evaluate acute and short-term responses, respectively. The GBH-exposed animals showed epithelial hyperplasia (75% of animals on PND8 and 37.5% of animals on PND21). In addition, a higher cell proliferation was detected in epithelial cells (C: 28.34±1.30%; GBH: 41.28±2.45%, p