Comparative study of the effects of perinatal exposure to glyphosate and its commercial formulation on the female reproductive performance and fetal development in rats.

LORENZ V; PACINI G; VARAYOUD J; LUQUE EH; MILESI MM

Congreso; Reunión conjunta de sociedades de Biociencias; 2017

Glyphosate-Based Herbicides (GBHs) have been the most widely used herbicides during the past three decades. Commercial formulations include other chemical, collectively named as co-adjuvants. Although these substances are classified as inert compounds, it has been demonstrated that the formulations of glyphosate are more toxic than the active principle (glyphosate). In the present study, we investigate the effects of perinatal exposure to glyphosate or a commercial formulation on female fertility and fetal development. Pregnant rats (F0) were orally exposed to glyphosate (Gly) or to 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). The body weight gain and the vaginal canal-opening of the F1 females were determined. Sexually mature F1 females were submitted to a fertility test to evaluate the pregnancy rates, and on GD19, the number of corpora lutea (CLs) and the implantation and resorption sites. To analyze transgenerational effects on the F2 offspring development, we evaluate the fetal weight, length and morphology, and the placental weight. Gly and GBH exposure neither altered the body weight gain of the F1 females with age, nor induced changes in vaginal opening. Although all Gly- and GBH-treated F1 females resulted pregnant, a decreased number of implantation sites were detected. Moreover, F2 offspring exhibited a delayed growth, evidenced by lower fetal weight and length in both Gly and GBH groups. No differences in placental weight were detected but an increase in placental index was observed in the Gly group. We concluded that perinatal exposure to glyphosate or its commercial formulation induced female subfertility by decreasing the number of implantation sites. In addition the normal development of their progeny was affected. These results suggested that the active principle glyphosate produced these deleterious reproductive effects.