Genotoxicity of glyphosate assessed by the comet assay and cytogenetic tests

Journal or Publishing Institution: Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology

Study: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21783980

Author(s): Mañas, F., Peralta, L., Raviolo, J., Ovando, H.G., Weyers, A., Ugnia, L., Cid, M.G., Larripa, I. and Gorla, N.

Article Type: Peer Reviewed Study

Record ID: 1499

Abstract: It was evaluated the genotoxicity of glyphosate which up to now has heterogeneous results. The comet assay was performed in Hep-2 cells. The level of DNA damage in the control group (5.42±1.83 arbitrary units) for tail moment (TM) measurements has shown a significant increase (p<0.01) with glyphosate at a range concentration from 3.00 to 7.50mM. In the chromosome aberrations (CA) test in human lymphocytes the herbicide (0.20-6.00mM) showed no significant effects in comparison with the control group. In vivo, the micronucleus test (MNT) was evaluated in mice at three doses rendering statistical significant increases at 400mg/kg (13.0±3.08 micronucleated erythrocytes/1000 cells, p<0.01). In the present study glyphosate was genotoxic in the comet assay in Hep-2 cells and in the MNT test at 400mg/kg in mice. Thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARs) levels, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were quantified in their organs. The results showed an increase in these enzyme activities.

Keywords: Glyphosate, Comet Assay, Chromosome Aberrations, Micronucleus, TBARs, SOD, Catalase; Man, Mice, Cell Lines, DNA, Enzyme Activity, Enzymes, Erythrocytes, Genotoxicity, Herbicides, Lymphocytes, Superoxide Dismutase, Blood Red Cells, Chromosome Abnormalities, Deoxyribonucleic Acid, Red Blood Cells, Weedicides, Weedkiller

Citation: Mañas, F., Peralta, L., Raviolo, J., Ovando, H.G., Weyers, A., Ugnia, L., Cid, M.G., Larripa, I. and Gorla, N., 2009. Genotoxicity of glyphosate assessed by the comet assay and cytogenetic tests. Environmental Toxicology and Pharmacology, 28(1), pp.37-41.