Impact of Glyphosate on the Changes in the mRNA Expression of Neurotransmitters in Experimental Rats

Abstract

Introduction: Glyphosate, an N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine is the active ingredient in the pervasive herbicide, Monsanto Roundup. It is widely used herbicide worldwide to eliminate unwanted plants both on agricultural and non agricultural landscapes. Glyphosate is used in different formulations and applied in diverse forms including isopropylamine salt, potassium salt, ammonium salt, diammonium salt and dimethyl ammonium salt. Glyphosate can display endocrine –disrupting activity, promote carcinogenicity in mouse skin and affect human erythrocyte. In humans the effects of glyphosate on metabolic health research has not been done to a larger extent. Aim: To analyse the impact of glyphosate on the changes in the mRNA expression of neurotransmitters in experimental rats. Materials and Methods: Male albino rats were classified into three groups. Group I:  Normal rats; Group II: glyphosate induced rats with 50 mg/ kg of glyphosate for 16 weeks; Group III:. The glyphosate induced rats with 100 mg/ kg of glyphosate for 16 weeks;Group IV:. The glyphosate induced rats with 250 mg/ kg of glyphosate for 16 weeks. After 16 weeks of glyphosate exposure , the control and induced animals were anesthetized and brain tissue were dissected to analyse the gene expression of  serotonin and GABA alpha .The data were statistically analysed and tabulated. Results: mRNA expressions of  neurotransmitters such as serotonin receptor and gamma-aminobutyric acid alpha (GABA a)  were significantly (p<0.05) down regulated in glyphosate-exposed rats in a dose-dependent manner (50, 100 and 250 mg/kg b.wt) suggesting that glyphosate exposure causes detrimental changes in the brain tissues in rats. Conclusion: Our present study for the first time proves that glyphosate  leads to diabetic neuropathy modulating expression of the neurotransmitters such as serotonin and GABA apha.