Perinatal exposure to a glyphosate based herbicide causes implantation failures and transgenerational induction of congenital anomalies in rats

PACINI G; VARAYOUD J; ALARCÓN R; LUQUE EH; MILESI MM

Congreso; SAIC 2016; 2016

Glyphosate based herbicides (GBH) are extensively used foragricultural purposes all over the world, which is closely associatedwith a constant increase in the use of transgenic glyphosa teresistantsoybean single-cropping. Recently, we showed that abrief exposure to a GBH, administered subcutaneously during thefirst postnatal week alters uterine development in prepubertal rats,and induces post-implantation embryo loss at adulthood. In thepresent study we evaluate if an oral administration of GBH duringthe perinatal period (gestation and lactation) affects female fertilityand/or induces transgenerational effects on prenatal developmentof their progeny. Pregnant rats (F0) were orally exposed to 200mg GBH/Kg/day through food, from gestational day (GD) 9 untilweaning (postnatal day 21, PND21). The body weight gain andthe vaginal canal-opening of the F1 females were evaluated. OnPND90, F1 females were submitted to a fertility test to evaluate thepregnancy rates, and on GD19, the number of corpora lutea (CLs)and the implantation and resorption sites. To determine transgenerationaleffects on the F2 offspring development, we evaluate thefetal weight, length and morphology, and the placental weight.GBH exposure did not alter the body weight gain of the F1 femaleswith age, but led to early onset of vaginal opening, indicating earlypuberty. Although all GBH-treated F1 females resulted pregnant,a decreased number of implanted embryos were detected. Moreover,F2 offspring exhibited a delayed growth, evidenced by lowerfetal weight and length. A higher placental weight was detectedin the GBH group. Surprisingly, structural congenital anomalies,such as, conjoined fetuses and abnormally developed limbs weredetected in the F2 offspring. We concluded that perinatal exposureto a GBH induced female subfertility by decreasing the numberof implanted embryos, and caused transgenerational induction ofcongenital anomalies.