Prenatal glyphosate exposure disrupts the gut-brain axis across several generations in mice.

Abstract

Glyphosate, a widely used herbicide in North America, has become prevalent in the food supply due to preharvest applications, raising concerns about potential health impacts. This study investigated the effects of prenatal glyphosate exposure on the gut bacteriome, colitis, metabolic health, and behavior across generations in mice. In healthy mice, glyphosate decreased goblet cell numbers and mucin-2 expression in the colon and dysregulated cytokines in F1 and F2 progeny at levels below the EPA acceptable daily limit. Glyphosate also disrupted metabolism, including impaired glucose tolerance, increased insulin resistance and reduced serum GLP-1 levels. Moreover, prenatal glyphosate exposure induced behavioral deficits, including reduced locomotor activity and impaired working memory, which are associated with alterations in the gut microbiome composition and key gut-brain axis mediators. These data underscore the potential risks associated with glyphosate exposure, highlighting the need for further research and regulatory consideration.