Abstracto

Impact of glyphosate alters the expression of insulin receptor and GLUT-4 molecule in cardiac tissue: an in vivo analysis.

Vedha R Nair, Kavitha S*, V Vishnupriya, J Selvaraj, Gayathri R

Background: Glyphosate, a herbicide, and desiccant, is one of the most widely used herbicides all around the world. It has teratogenic, tumorigenic, and hepatorenal effects which can be explained by the endocrine disruption and oxidative stress causing metabolic alterations conditioned by the dose and time of exposure. Glucose Transporter (GLUT-4) activity alterations are considered responsible for the decrease of glucose uptake in muscle and adipose tissues in obesity and diabetes. Insulin Receptors (IR) is a receptor important for metabolic regulations and its alteration causes insulin resistance. Insulin resistance promotes impaired fasting blood glucose level which increases the prevalence of atherogenic lipid profile. Aim: The aim of the study is to study the effect of glyphosate on the expression of both insulin receptor and GLUT-4 molecule. Materials and Methods: Healthy male albino rats were divided into four groups and each consisting of 6 animals. Group I-Control; Group II-50mg; Group II-100mg; Group II-250mg exposed rats. After exposure with glyphosate, the rats were sacrificed, cardiac tissues from control and treated rats were dissected out and used for the assessment of gene expression analysis of Insulin Receptor (IR) and Glucose Transporter-4 (GLUT4). The data were analyzed statistically by a one-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) followed by Duncan’s multiple range tests were used to see the statistical significance among the group. The results with the p < 0.05 level were considered to be statistically significant. Results: There was a decrease in the IR mRNA and GLUT-4 mRNA expression, leading to hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia eventually leading to diabetes. There was a statistical significance with the value P < 0.05, Conclusion: The present study revealed the role of glyphosate in inducing hyperinsulinemia and hyperglycemia, which can cause diabetes by altering IR and GLUT4.