MOLECULAR AND MORPHOLOGICAL ALTERATIONS IN THE UTERUS OF ADULT RATS TREATED WITH GLYPHOSATE-BASED HERBICIDE AND CAFETERIA DIET

ZANARDI M.V.; GASTIAZORO MP; ZIERAU, O.; DURANDO M; VARAYOUD J

Congreso; XXIV Jornada Anual de la Sociedad Argentina de Biología; 2022

Sociedad Argentina de Biología (SAB)

The development of endometrial hyperplasia (EH), a preneoplastic lesion, is associated with environmental factors, including unhealthy diets and chemical exposure. In this sense, we have demonstrated that cafeteria diet (CAF) provoked EH in adult rats and that the exposure to glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) altered the uterine development, leading to EH later in life. However, the potential interaction between these environmental factors that women are frequently co-exposed remains unclear. Thus, we evaluated whether the addition of a subchronical low-dose of a GBH enhances the CAF-effects on the rat uterus. Female Wistar rats at postnatal day (PND) 21 were randomly divided into: Control group, fed with chow diet; CAF group, fed with CAF, and CAF+GBH group, fed with CAF and added of a GBH from PND 140. Rats were sacrificed at PND 240. Serum samples were collected to assess 17β-estradiol (E2) and progesterone (P4) levels, and uterine samples were obtained for histological studies (morphometric and immunohistochemical analysis). The levels of E2 and P4 were similar in CAF and CAF+GBH rats respect to Control rats (p=0.208). However, the serum levels of P4 were increased in CAF+GBH group respect to CAF one (p=0.018). In the uterus, the addition of GBH enhanced the presence of preneoplastic lesions induced by CAF alone, reflected by an increased density of glands with cellular anomalies plus glands with daughter glands in CAF+GBH group than in CAF and Control groups (p=0.002). At protein level, higher cell proliferation and expression of estrogen receptor alpha (ESR1) were found in CAF and CAF+GBH groups respect to Control group (p