From dysbiosis to neuropathologies: Toxic effects of glyphosate in zebrafish
Author
Bellot, Marina
Carrillo, Maria Paula
Bedrossiantz, Juliette
Zheng, Jiamin
Mandal, Rupasri
Wishart, David S.
Vila-Costa, Maria
Prats, Eva
Piña, Benjamí
Raldúa, Demetrio
Other authors
Universitat Ramon Llull. IQS
Publication date
2023-12-26ISSN
1090-2414
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.
Document Type
Article
Document version
Published version
Language
English
Subject (CDU)
504 - Threats to the environment
Keywords
Neurotoxicity
transgenics
Herbicides
Microbiota
Neurotransmitter
Pages
8p.
Publisher
Elsevier Inc.
Is part of
Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
This item appears in the following Collection(s)
Rights
© L'autor/a
Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/