Serum biochemical assessment of hepatic and renal functions of rats during oral exposure to glyphosate with zinc

Abstract

A subchronic toxicity study was carried out to assess hepatic and renal functions of rats during oral exposure to glyphosate with zinc for the period of 8 weeks. Forty-eight Wistar rats used for the study were randomized into six groups of eight Wistar rats each, and each group had equal number of male and female Wistar rats. The Wistar rats administered with distilled water at 2 ml/kg body weight served as the control group (DW); others were administered with zinc at 50 mg/kg body weight (Z) group, glyphosate at 375 mg/kg body weight (G) group, a combination of zinc and glyphosate at 50 and 375 mg/kg body weight, respectively (Z + G), group, glyphosate at 14.4 mg/kg body weight (GC) group, and a combination of zinc and glyphosate at 50 and 14.4 mg/kg body weight, respectively (Z + GC), group. At the end of the study, blood samples were collected from each rats; from which, sera samples were obtained and assayed for total protein, albumin, alanine and aspartate aminotransferases, alkaline phosphatase, Na+, K+, Cl−, , Ca2+, , urea and creatinine using autoanalyzer, and globulin was calculated. The albumin concentration was significantly high (p < 0.05) in GC group compared to DW group, and this change was ameliorated following supplementation with zinc. The total protein and globulin concentrations did not differ significantly between the groups (p > 0.05), and the relative changes were ameliorated by supplementation with zinc. The alkaline phosphatase activity was relatively low in GC group; however, supplementation with zinc in Z + GC group made it to be significantly high (p < 0.05) compared to GC group. The alanine and aspartate aminotransferases in G and GC groups were relatively high compared to DW group, which were ameliorated by supplementation with zinc. The relatively low Ca2+ concentration in G and GC groups compared to DW were ameliorated in Z + G group, and it was significantly high in Z + GC group at p < 0.01 compared to DW, p < 0.001 compared to G and GC groups and p < 0.05 compared to Z + G group. There were only slight changes in the electrolytes concentrations (Na+, K+, Cl−, and ), which were differentially ameliorated by zinc supplementation. The reasons for the various changes recorded were discussed. It was concluded that subchronic oral exposure to glyphosate caused both hepatic and renal functions toxicity in rats, which were ameliorated by zinc supplementation.

Health effect of agricultural pesticide use in China: implications for the development of GM crops

“…As shown, glyphosate use was not likely to induce negative effect on the blood chemistry panel. It was consistent with the previous studies of human occupational exposure 29 30 , but out of accord with the animal studies 47 48 49 50 . It might be attributed to that the relative level of glyphosate intake of the occupational exposed humans was less than that of the oral-administrated experimental animals, and far from enough to induce human health damage.…”

How Glyphosate Impairs Liver Condition in the Field Lizard Podarcis siculus (Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1810): Histological and Molecular Evidence

“…Following Gly administration, it is possible to observe clusters of hepatocytes synthesizing MT, thus demonstrating that Gly induces a cellular response, which includes the nonenzymatic antioxidants pathway. These data are in agreement with those observed in rats, where the histopathological changes engendered by the herbicide ameliorated when the glyphosate exposure was preceded by a zinc supplementation, which was able to induce a massive MT synthesis [49].…”

Activation of the N‐methyl‐d‐aspartate receptor is involved in glyphosate‐induced renal proximal tubule cell apoptosis

“…Metabolic studies suggested that the concentration of glyphosate and its metabolic products in kidney and liver tissues were 10‐100‐fold (or even greater) higher than that in most other tissues (BfR, ). Acute administration of a commercial product of glyphosate at high doses or subchronic oral exposure for 8 weeks caused renal toxicity in rats (Tizhe et al, ). A long‐term and low‐dose administration regimen (for approximately 2 years) induced gene expression changes in liver and kidney, and the affected genes were related to inflammatory responses and oxidative stress (Mesnage et al, ).…”

“…There are some epidemiological studies suggesting a potential relationship between glyphosate‐based herbicides (together with other factors) and chronic kidney disease of unknown etiology (CKDu) (Jayasumana, Gunatilake, & Senanayake, ; Jayasumana et al, ; Peraza et al, ). Several studies using models of acute or subchronic exposure as well as long‐term exposure have indicated that the kidney may be one of the main targets of glyphosate, and the renal proximal tubule may be a main target site for glyphosate‐based herbicides (Dedeke, Owagboriaye, Ademolu, Olujimi, & Aladesida, ; Hamdaoui et al, ; Mesnage et al, ; Tizhe et al, ; Wunnapuk et al, ). However, some studies have suggested that the formulation of herbicides is more toxic than glyphosate alone (Dedeke et al, ; Gasnier et al, ).…”