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Ait Bali Y, Madougou FA, Ba-M'hamed S, Giustetto M, Bennis M. Glyphosate-based herbicide exposure affects cognitive flexibility and social cognition in adult mice. Neurosci Lett 2024; 837:137912. [PMID: 39032801 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2024.137912] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 07/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/23/2024]
Abstract
Glyphosate (Gly) is the active ingredient of several widely used herbicide formulations. Studies on Gly and glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) exposure in different experimental models have suggested that the nervous system represented a key target for its toxicity, especially the prefrontal cortex (PFC). However, it is still unknown whether exposure to GBH affects higher brain functions dependent on PFC circuitry. The present work aimed to examine the effects of subtoxic doses of GBH on social cognition and cognitive flexibility as two functions belonging to higher brain function in mice. To do so, adult male mice were exposed daily to GBH by gavage at doses of 250 or 500 mg/kg for a sub-chronic period lasting 6 weeks. Then, mice were subjected to behavioral testing using the three-chamber and the Barnes maze paradigms. Our results indicate that GBH did not affect sociability. However, we found that GBH affects social cognition expressed by a lower discrimination index in the three-chamber test. Moreover, spatial memories evaluated during the probe trial, and cognitive flexibility evaluated during the reversal probe, were affected in mice exposed to GBH. Based on these results, exposure to subtoxic doses of GBH led to neurobehavioral alterations affecting the integrity of social cognition and cognitive flexibility functions. Finally, these data urge a thorough investigation of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these alterations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yassine Ait Bali
- Lumbricidae, Improving Soil Productivity and Environment Unit, Higher Normal School, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Rabat, Morocco; Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco.
| | - Fatiya Alfari Madougou
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Saadia Ba-M'hamed
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
| | - Maurizio Giustetto
- Department of Neuroscience Rita Levi-Montalcini, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
| | - Mohamed Bennis
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Neurobiology, Anthropobiology and Environment, Cadi Ayyad University, Marrakech, Morocco
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Chávez-Reyes J, López-Lariz CH, Marichal-Cancino BA. Both acute glyphosate and the aminomethylphosphonic acid intoxication decreased the acetylcholinesterase activity in rat hippocampus, prefrontal cortex and gastrocnemius muscle. Drug Chem Toxicol 2024:1-5. [PMID: 38465510 DOI: 10.1080/01480545.2024.2326634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 03/12/2024]
Abstract
It has been reported that glyphosate, one of the most common herbicides used in agriculture, impairs locomotion and cognition. Glyphosate has a variable half-life in soil up to biotic and/or abiotic factors transform the molecule in metabolites such as the aminomethylphosphonic acid (AMPA) that has a longer half-life. In this study, female Sprague Dawley rats were acutely exposed to different doses of glyphosate or AMPA (i.e. 10, 56 or 100 mg/kg) and, subsequently, the acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity was measured in the hippocampus, prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the gastrocnemius muscle. Both glyphosate and AMPA produced a similar decrease in the AChE activity in all the tissues tested. These results suggest that interference with normal cholinergic neurotransmission may be one of the mechanisms involved in glyphosate-induced motor alterations in rats. Moreover, our results highlight the biological importance of AMPA as a molecule with anticholinesterase action in brain and skeletal muscle. To our knowledge, this is the first report showing in vivo that AMPA, the major metabolite of glyphosate, behaves as an organophosphate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Chávez-Reyes
- Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, México
| | - Carlos H López-Lariz
- Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, México
| | - Bruno A Marichal-Cancino
- Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, México
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Chávez-Reyes J, Gutiérrez-Reyes CD, Hernández-Cuellar E, Marichal-Cancino BA. Neurotoxicity of glyphosate: Focus on molecular mechanisms probably associated with alterations in cognition and behavior. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY 2024; 106:104381. [PMID: 38311300 DOI: 10.1016/j.etap.2024.104381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Revised: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 01/31/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
In recent decades, glyphosate and glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) have been extensively used in agriculture all over the world. Initially, they were considered safe, but rising evidence suggests that these molecules reach the central nervous system producing metabolic, functional, and permanent alterations that impact cognition and behavior. This theoretical and non-systematic review involved searching, integrating, and analyzing preclinical evidence regarding the effects of acute, sub-chronic, and chronic exposure to glyphosate and GBH on cognition, behavior, neural activity, and development in adult and juvenile rodents following perinatal exposition. In addition, this review gathers the mechanisms underlying the neurotoxicity of glyphosate mediating cognitive and behavioral alterations. Furthermore, clinical evidence of the effects of exposition to GBH on human health and its possible link with several neurological disorders was revised.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jesús Chávez-Reyes
- Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico
| | | | | | - Bruno A Marichal-Cancino
- Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Centro de Ciencias Básicas, Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes, Mexico.
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Li J, Bi H. Clarification of the molecular mechanisms underlying glyphosate-induced major depressive disorder: a network toxicology approach. Ann Gen Psychiatry 2024; 23:8. [PMID: 38297317 PMCID: PMC10829247 DOI: 10.1186/s12991-024-00491-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/18/2024] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Major depressive disorder (MDD) is predicted to become the second most common cause of disability in the near future. Exposure to glyphosate (Gly)-based herbicides has been linked to the onset of MDD. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential molecular mechanisms of MDD induced by Gly using network toxicology approach. The MDD dataset GSE76826 from the Gene Expression Omnibus database was referenced to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in peripheral blood leukocytes of MDD patients and controls. The potential intersection targets of Gly-induced MDD were screened by network toxicology. The intersection targets were used for Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis and to construct protein-protein interaction networks. The binding potentials of hub targets with Gly were validated by molecular docking. In total, 1216 DEGs associated with Gly-induced MDD were identified. Subsequent network pharmacology further refined the search to 43 targets. GO and KEGG enrichment analyses revealed multiple signaling pathways involved in GLY-induced MDD. Six potential core targets (CD40, FOXO3, FOS, IL6, TP53, and VEGFA) were identified. Finally, molecular docking demonstrated that Gly exhibited strong binding affinity to the core targets. The results of this study identified potential molecular mechanisms underlying Gly induced MDD and provided new insights for prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianan Li
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, College of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Road, Yun Long District, Xuzhou, 221000, China
| | - Haoran Bi
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, 209 Tongshan Road, Yun Long District, Xuzhou, 221000, China.
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Bellot M, Carrillo MP, Bedrossiantz J, Zheng J, Mandal R, Wishart DS, Gómez-Canela C, Vila-Costa M, Prats E, Piña B, Raldúa D. From dysbiosis to neuropathologies: Toxic effects of glyphosate in zebrafish. ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY 2024; 270:115888. [PMID: 38150752 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecoenv.2023.115888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 12/15/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/29/2023]
Abstract
Glyphosate, a globally prevalent herbicide known for its selective inhibition of the shikimate pathway in plants, is now implicated in physiological effects on humans and animals, probably due to its impacts in their gut microbiomes which possess the shikimate pathway. In this study, we investigate the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of glyphosate on the gut microbiota, neurotransmitter levels, and anxiety in zebrafish. Our findings demonstrate that glyphosate exposure leads to dysbiosis in the zebrafish gut, alterations in central and peripheral serotonin levels, increased dopamine levels in the brain, and notable changes in anxiety and social behavior. While the dysbiosis can be attributed to glyphosate's antimicrobial properties, the observed effects on neurotransmitter levels leading to the reported induction of oxidative stress in the brain indicate a novel and significant mode of action for glyphosate, namely the impairment of the microbiome-gut-axis. While further investigations are necessary to determine the relevance of this mechanism in humans, our findings shed light on the potential explanation for the contradictory reports on the safety of glyphosate for consumers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Bellot
- Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià-Universitat Ramon Llull, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Paula Carrillo
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juliette Bedrossiantz
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jiamin Zheng
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Rupasri Mandal
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - David S Wishart
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Cristian Gómez-Canela
- Department of Analytical and Applied Chemistry, School of Engineering, Institut Químic de Sarrià-Universitat Ramon Llull, 08017 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maria Vila-Costa
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Prats
- Research and Development Center (CID-CSIC), Jordi Girona, 18, 08034 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Benjamí Piña
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Demetrio Raldúa
- Institute for Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), 08034 Barcelona, Spain
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Matsuzaki R, Gunnigle E, Geissen V, Clarke G, Nagpal J, Cryan JF. Pesticide exposure and the microbiota-gut-brain axis. THE ISME JOURNAL 2023:10.1038/s41396-023-01450-9. [PMID: 37328570 DOI: 10.1038/s41396-023-01450-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2022] [Revised: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/31/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
The gut microbiota exist within a dynamic ecosystem shaped by various factors that includes exposure to xenobiotics such as pesticides. It is widely regarded that the gut microbiota plays an essential role in maintaining host health, including a major influence on the brain and behaviour. Given the widespread use of pesticides in modern agriculture practices, it is important to assess the long-term collateral effects these xenobiotic exposures have on gut microbiota composition and function. Indeed, exposure studies using animal models have shown that pesticides can induce negative impacts on the host gut microbiota, physiology and health. In tandem, there is a growing body of literature showing that the effects of pesticide exposure can be extended to the manifestation of behavioural impairments in the host. With the increasing appreciation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis, in this review we assess whether pesticide-induced changes in gut microbiota composition profiles and functions could be driving these behavioural alterations. Currently, the diversity of pesticide type, exposure dose and variation in experimental designs hinders direct comparisons of studies presented. Although many insights presented, the mechanistic connection between the gut microbiota and behavioural changes remains insufficiently explored. Future experiments should therefore focus on causal mechanisms to examine the gut microbiota as the mediator of the behavioural impairments observed in the host following pesticide exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rie Matsuzaki
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, T12 YT20, Cork, Ireland
| | - Eoin Gunnigle
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20, Cork, Ireland
| | - Violette Geissen
- Department of Environmental Sciences, Wageningen University & Research, 6700AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands
| | - Gerard Clarke
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20, Cork, Ireland
- Department of Psychiatry & Neurobehavioural Sciences, University College Cork, T12 YT20, Cork, Ireland
| | - Jatin Nagpal
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20, Cork, Ireland
- School of Pharmacy and Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics, University College Cork, T12 YT20, Cork, Ireland
| | - John F Cryan
- APC Microbiome Ireland, University College Cork, T12 YT20, Cork, Ireland.
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, University College Cork, T12 YT20, Cork, Ireland.
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