Perinatal exposure to a glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) or its active ingredient, glyphosate (Gly), has been demonstrated to increase implantation failure in rats. This study investigates potential mechanisms of action, analyzing uterine preparation towards the receptive state. Pregnant Wistar rats (F0) were treated orally with GBH or Gly (3.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFExposure to glyphosate-based herbicides (GBH) and consumption of cafeteria (CAF) diet, which are widespread in Western society, seem to be associated with endometrial hyperplasia (EH). Here, we aimed to evaluate the effects of a subchronic low dose of GBH added to the CAF diet on the rat uterus. Female Wistar rats were fed from postnatal day (PND)21 until PND240 with chow (control) or CAF diet.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaternal diet has impact on reproduction, fetal development and offspring behavior, although molecular mechanisms remained unknown. Our aims were to assess (1) the effects of a cafeteria (CAF) diet (western diet habits) on female reproductive performance, fetal and placental parameters on gestational day 21 and litter size and pup weight at birth; and (2) placental messenger RNA (mRNA) expression and epigenetic regulation of Insulin-Like Growth Factor (Igf) and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (Vegf) and their receptors. Female Wistar rats were fed with control or CAF diet from weaning until parturition.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFHops (Humulus lupulus) is used as an alternative to hormone replacement therapy due to the phytoestrogen, 8-prenylnaringenin (8-PN). To examine the potential risks/benefits of hops extract and its compounds (8-PN and 6-prenylnaringenin, 6-PN), we aimed to evaluate the estrogen receptor α (ERα) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling pathways in human endometrial cancer cells. Hops extract, 8-PN and 6-PN showed estrogenic activity.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFFront Endocrinol (Lausanne)
December 2021
Glyphosate base herbicides (GBHs) are the most widely applied pesticides in the world and are mainly used in association with GBH-tolerant crop varieties. Indiscriminate and negligent use of GBHs has promoted the emergence of glyphosate resistant weeds, and consequently the rise in the use of these herbicides. Glyphosate, the active ingredient of all GBHs, is combined with other chemicals known as co-formulants that enhance the herbicide action.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) exposure is known to have adverse effects on endocrine-related tissues. Here, we aimed to determine whether early postnatal exposure to a GBH induces long-term effects on the rat mammary gland. Thus, female Wistar pups were injected with saline solution (Control) or GBH (2 mg glyphosate/kg/day) on postnatal days (PND) 1, 3, 5 and 7.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOur aim was to evaluate whether chronic administration of CAF affects the uterus and induces the morphological and molecular changes associated with endometrial hyperplasia. Female Wistar rats exposed to CAF from weaning for 20 weeks displayed increased energy intake, body weight and fat depots, but did not develop metabolic syndrome. The adult uteri showed an increase in glandular volume fraction and stromal area.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCaiman latirostris is a species with temperature dependent sex determination (TSD), which implies that the incubation temperature of the eggs is the main factor that determines the sex during a thermo-sensitive period (TSP). However, estrogens play a critical role in this process. The administration of 17β-estradiol (E) previous to TSP overrides the effects of male incubation temperature, producing phenotypic females.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFGlyphosate is the active ingredient of several herbicide formulations. Different reports suggest that glyphosate-based herbicides (GBHs) may act as endocrine disruptors. We evaluated the potential estrogenic effects of a GBH formulation using the uterotrophic assay.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe study of oral exposure to the environmental estrogen bisphenol A (BPA) during the perinatal period and its effects on ovarian functionality in adulthood has generated special interest. Thus, our objective was to investigate ovarian folliculogenesis and steroidogenesis in adult female rat offspring born to mothers exposed to low doses of BPA (BPA50: 50μg/kgday; BPA0.5: 0.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFStudies regarding the effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on the reproductive functions of wild animals have raised increasing concern. Thus, here we evaluated the consequences of in ovo exposure to endosulfan (END) and bisphenol A (BPA) in testes from neonatal to juvenile (Juv) caimans (Caiman latirostris). Caiman eggs were collected from areas with low to moderate anthropogenic intervention and incubated at male-producing temperature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFOur aims were to evaluate whether exposure to Bisphenol A (BPA) modifies the development of the male rat mammary gland (MG) and to evaluate whether this modification is gender specific. From gestational day 9, pregnant rats were exposed either subcutaneously to 0, 25 or 250μg BPA/kgbw/day until parturition or orally to 0 and 64μg BPA/kgbw/day until weaning. MG development was analyzed on postnatal days (PND) 5, 15 and 30.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCaiman latirostris is a reptilian species that exhibits temperature-dependent sex determination (TSD). Male-to-female sex reversal can be achieved after in ovo estrogen/xenoestrogen exposure. This is known as hormone-dependent sex determination (HSD).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPrenatal exposure to BPA disturbs mammary gland histoarchitecture and increases the carcinogenic susceptibility to chemical challenges administered long after BPA exposure. Our aim was to assess the effect of prenatal BPA exposure on mammary gland angiogenesis and steroid hormone pathways in virgin cycling rats. Pregnant Wistar rats were exposed to either 25 or 250 g/kg/day (25 and 250 BPA, respectively) or to vehicle.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe increased use of agrochemical pesticides, such as atrazine (ATZ) and endosulfan (END), may have a significant impact on ecosystem health and biodiversity. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of in ovum exposure to ATZ and END on Caiman latirostris gonadal histo-functional features. Caiman eggs were collected from environmentally pristine areas and incubated in controlled conditions at male producing temperature (33 degrees C).
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Health Perspect
January 2007
Background: Humans are routinely exposed to bisphenol A (BPA), an estrogenic compound that leaches from dental materials, food and beverage containers, and other consumer products. Prenatal exposure to BPA has produced long-lasting and profound effects on rodent hormone-dependent tissues that are manifested 1-6 months after the end of exposure.
Objective: The aim of the present work was to examine whether in utero exposure to BPA alters mammary gland development and increases its susceptibility to the carcinogen N-nitroso-N-methylurea (NMU).
Introduction: Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant disease in women. Exposure to estrogens throughout a woman's life is a risk factor for the development of breast cancer. Organochlorine compounds (OCCs), such as pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls, are persistent lipophilic chemicals identified as endocrine disruptors, mainly with estrogenic effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFThe uterine cervix at term undergoes histomorphological changes that resemble an inflammatory process. The aim of this study was to better characterize these changes, describing the temporal and spatial pattern of macrophages and mast cells (MC) distribution in the uterine cervix and assessing whether both cells exert a coordinated action on angiogenesis. Macrophages and MC were identified by immunohistochemistry in cervical tissue from cycling, pregnant and postpartum rats.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFIn this study, we investigated the cellular and molecular events involved in parity-related alterations in mammary gland (MG) proliferation and differentiation. Rat MGs were removed on day 9 of either first (nulliparous), second (primiparous) or third (multiparous) pregnancy. Expression of steroid hormone receptors along with cellular biomarkers of proliferation and differentiation were quantified in all MG tissue compartments by immunohistochemistry.
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