Effects of glyphosate on cholinesterase activity of the mussel Perna perna and the fish Danio rerio and Jenynsia multidentata: in vitro studies.

Although the herbicide glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethyl)glycine] is not classified as an acethylcholinesterase inhibitor, some studies have reported reduction in the acethylcolinesterase activity after in vivo exposure to both its pure form and its commercial formulations. Considering this controversy, the objective of the present study was to investigate, in vitro, the effects of glyphosate exposure on cholinesterase activity of the brown mussel Perna perna and of two fish species: zebrafish Danio rerio and onesided livebearer Jenynsia multidentata. For this purpose, samples of different tissues (brain and muscle for fish; gills and muscle for mussel) were homogenized and pre-incubated with different glyphosate concentrations before cholinesterase activity determination.