Studies on the effect of glyphosate-based herbicide on some organs of albino rats with the possible ameliorative effect of N-acetylcysteine

Abstract

Glyphosate (GLP) is the most commonly used, broad spectrum non-selective herbicide in worldwide markets. It considered the active ingredient of several commercial formulations including Roundup®. The present study was carried out to study the potential toxic effects of (GLP) on both hepatic and testicular tissues and the ability of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to ameliorate such toxic effects. A total 30 adult male albino rats were alienated into three groups 10 rats each: control group only received distilled water, GLP-exposed group orally received 375 mg/kg and NAC co-treated group orally received GLP(375mg/kg) plus NAC (160mg/kg orally, 1hr before GLP) daily for 6weeks. At the end of the experiment, blood samples were collected from each rat, serum was separated for determination of liver function tests (Aspartate aminotransferase (AST), Alanine aminotransferase (ALT). Sperms were collected from cauda of epididymis of each rat for semen analysis. Some liver and testis samples were collected for estimation of oxidative stress markers and quantitative RT-PCR analysis for apoptotic gene expression (Bax, c-Myc). While other samples were used for histo-pathological, immune-histochemical, and ultra-structural examination. GLP-exposed group revealed a significant increase in ALT, AST, Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, abnormal sperms, apoptotic gene expression, and a significant decrease in sperm concentration, viability, and motility. Moreover, several histo-pathological alterations were observed in the form of hyalinization, vacuolation, and sever congestion of blood vessels for both testis and liver. Bile stagnation, ballooning of hepatocytes, desquamation of spermatogenic cells, decrease at epithelial height, thickening of tunica albugenia, edema, and vacuolation of interstitial tissue. Ultra-structurally, there was loss of most of cytoplasmic organelles in hepatocytes, nuclear condensation and mitochondrial degeneration in both hepatocytes and testicular cells. Increased inter-cellular spaces, and deformed spermatozoal heads, and degenerated tail with excess residual bodies were also noticed. There was an increase in immune-reactivity for both proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and caspase-3. On the other hand, NAC co-treated group exhibited significant improvement at all levels in both hepatic and testicular tissues. It could be concluded that, the adverse effects induced by GLP were markedly ameliorated by co-treatment with NAC.