Behavioral and neuroinflammatory changes caused by glyphosate: Base herbicide in mice offspring

Birth Defects Res. 2023 Mar 1;115(4):488-497. doi: 10.1002/bdr2.2138. Epub 2022 Dec 18.

Abstract

Background: Glyphosate is a pesticide considered of low toxicity, but scientific evidences show it can be harmful to health. This study aimed to evaluate the toxicity in mice offspring exposed to glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) during the intrauterine period.

Methods: Female matrices received glyphosate 0.3 mg/kg daily per oral throughout the gestational period, which was variable between 18 and 22 days. From the 25th until the 28th days post-birth, mice offspring were subjected to behavioral tests, and the prefrontal cortex was processed for immunohistochemical analysis.

Results: Two significant behavioral changes were observed: anxiety in the GLIF0.3 group, increase in the behavior burying marbles in the marble-burying test and hyperactivity, expressed by the significant increase of the crossing number in the open field test. The increased microglia, TNF-alpha, and astrocyte expression were also observed in the prefrontal cortex of offspring treated with GLIF0.3.

Conclusion: Exposure to GBH during mice intrauterine development induces hyperactive and anxious behavior, evidencing neuroinflammation.

Keywords: central nervous system; glyphosate; herbicide; neuroinflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Behavior, Animal
  • Female
  • Glycine / toxicity
  • Glyphosate
  • Herbicides* / toxicity
  • Mice
  • Neuroinflammatory Diseases

Substances

  • Herbicides
  • Glycine