The effects of glyphosate-based herbicide on the hypothalamic-pituitary thyroid axis are tissue-specific and dependent on age exposure

Abstract

The significant increase in glyphosate-based herbicide (GBH) use raises concerns about residues in the environment and food, potentially jeopardizing human health. The involvement of GBHs in the increased incidence of thyroid disorders is speculated, since glyphosate has been linked to an increased risk of thyroid disease in farmers. In this sense, this study aims to investigate the potential effects of low levels of GBH exposure (0, 0.5 or 5 mg/kg) from weaning (postnatal day PND23) to adult life (PND60 and PND90) in male Wistar rats on hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid (HPT) axis function. The serum levels of T4 were increased. The hypothalamus showed reduced expression of Dio2, Thra1, and Thra2. The pituitary showed reduced expression of Mct8 and Dio2 and increased expression of Thra1. The thyroid showed increased expression of Tshr and Thra1. The heart showed increased expression of Mct8 and Myh6. The liver showed reduced expression of Mct8 and Thra2 and increased expression of Thra1. In thyroid morphometry, a decrease in both follicular diameter and area and decreased follicular and colloid diameters and areas were observed. These results suggested that GBH may affect several steps of HPT axis regulation at the transcriptional level in an age-dependent manner and alter the morphometric parameters of the thyroid gland and TH synthesis, with potential repercussions in the TH-target organs.