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

CADAVIZ FERNÁNDEZ DB; GASTIAZORO MP; VARAYOUD J; PACINI G; LUQUE EH; LORENZ V; DURANDO M; MILESI MM

Buenos Aires

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

Objectives: Epidemiological studies have shown a close correlation between environmental and/or occupational exposure to pesticides andadverse 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 ofintense debate. The present study investigates the effects of perinatalexposure to glyphosate (Gly) or a commercial formulation on femalefertility and fetal development.Methods: Pregnant rats (F0) were orally exposed to Gly or a GBH throughfood, in a dose of 2 mg of glyphosate/kg/day (RfD, EPA), from gestationalday (GD) 9 until weaning (lactational day 21). Glyphosate levels weremeasured in the serum of F0 dams during gestation and lactation byUHPLCeMS/MS. Sexually mature F1 females were submitted to a fertilitytest to evaluate the pregnancy rates, and on GD19, the number of corporalutea and the implantation and resorption sites. To analyze transgenerational effects on the F2 offspring development, we evaluated the fetalweight, length and morphology, and the placental weight.Results: Glyphosate serum concentrations in F0 dams were similar overthe treatment period, and lower levels were detected in Gly with respect toGBH group (Control: no detected; Gly: 13.4 ± 2.3 ug/L, GBH: 38.7 ± 5.6 ug/L, p