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Effects of Glyphosate on Locomotion and Anxiety‐like Behavior in Rats
Author(s) -
Reyes-Sepúlveda Carlos Javier,
Cáceres-Chacón Mauricio,
Alvelo-Fernández Paola,
Haddock-Martínez Hector,
Ramos-Sánchez Raúl,
Martínez-Guzmán Osmarie,
Rivera-López Melissa,
Sierra-Mercado Demetrio
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2020.34.s1.09764
Subject(s) - glyphosate , open field , zoology , toxicology , biology , chemistry , agronomy , endocrinology
Glyphosate is the active ingredient in several commercial herbicides. The development of glyphosate‐resistant seeds has led to an increase in the use of glyphosate in agriculture. This has resulted in the exposure of non‐agricultural lands and bodies of water to glyphosate. Though initially considered safe for mammals, recent studies in rats have shown that administration of glyphosate leads to alterations in locomotion and anxiety‐like behavior. These studies generally used unrealistically high concentrations of glyphosate. Therefore, the effects of a dose of glyphosate considered safe by the Environmental Protection Agency through drinking water remain unclear. To determine if these levels affect locomotion and anxiety‐like behavior, we provided rats with access ad libitum to glyphosate‐contaminated drinking water or filtered water for four weeks. Glyphosate‐contaminated water was prepared for a target dose of 1.75mg/kg of glyphosate daily. We hypothesize that intake of glyphosate‐contaminated drinking water will decrease locomotion and increase anxiety‐like behavior. Locomotion was assessed in an open field. We observed that glyphosate did not decrease the overall distance travelled (control: 30.67m, glyphosate: 23.70m; p=0.058) nor did it affect average speed (control: 0.102m/s, glyphosate: 0.079; p=0.058). Anxiety‐like behaviors were also measured in the open field. Here, glyphosate did not increase the amount of entries to the center (control: 25.5, glyphosate: 27.5; p=0.726) nor time spent in the center (control: 74.22s, glyphosate: 87.9; p=0.572). In conclusion, this dose and exposure time of glyphosate did not affect locomotion or anxiety‐like behavior. Future directions include performing immunohistochemistry to assess neuronal activity in brain regions involved in locomotion and anxiety‐like behaviors. Support or Funding Information Young Investigator grant (NARSAD) of the Brain & Behavior Research Foundation, PRCTRC Pilot, NIGMS COBRE and RCMI8G12MD00760 to DS‐M; NSF PRCEN fellowships to CJR‐S, MC‐C, HH‐M, RR‐S and MR‐L, UPR Med Sci Campus Chancellor’s Office and School of Medicine Deanship.