title: Pre- and postnatal exposure to low dose glufosinate ammonium induces autism-like phenotypes in mice.
abstract: Glufosinate ammonium (GLA) is one of the most widely used herbicides in agriculture. As is the case for most pesticides, potential adverse effects of GLA have not been studied from the perspective of developmental neurotoxicity. Early pesticides exposure may weaken the basic structure of the developing brain and cause permanent changes leading to a wide range of lifelong effects on health and/or behavior. Here, we addressed the developmental impact of GLA by exposing female mice to low dose GLA during both pre- and postnatal periods and analyzed potential developmental and behavioral changes of the offspring during infancy and adulthood. A neurobehavioral test battery revealed significant effects of GLA maternal exposure on early reflex development, pup communication, affiliative behaviors, and preference for social olfactory cues, but emotional reactivity and emotional memory remained unaltered. These behavioral alterations showed a striking resemblance to changes seen in animal models of Autistic Spectrum Disorders. At the brain level, GLA maternal exposure caused some increase in relative brain weight of the offspring. In addition, reduced expression of Pten and Peg3 - two genes implicated in autism-like deficits - was observed in the brain of GLA-exposed pups at postnatal day 15. Our work thus provides new data on the link between pre- and postnatal exposure to the herbicide GLA and the onset of autism-like symptoms later in life. It also raises fundamental concerns about the ability of current safety testing to assess risks of pesticide exposure during critical developmental periods.
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Anthony
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Laugeray
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Ameziane
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Herzine
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France ; Département de génétique, Centre Hospitalier Régional , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Perche
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Betty
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hébert
authors.affiliation: Université d'Orléans , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Marine
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Aguillon-Naury
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France ; Université d'Orléans , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Richard
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France ; Université d'Orléans , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Arnaud
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Menuet
authors.affiliation: IRSET INSERM U 1085, Université de Rennes I , Rennes , France.
authors.forename: Séverine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazaud-Guittot
authors.affiliation: IRSET INSERM U 1085, Université de Rennes I , Rennes , France.
authors.forename: Laurianne
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lesné
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France ; Département de génétique, Centre Hospitalier Régional , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Briault
authors.affiliation: IRSET INSERM U 1085, Université de Rennes I , Rennes , France.
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jegou
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France ; Université d'Orléans , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pichon
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France ; Université d'Orléans , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Céline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Montécot-Dubourg
authors.affiliation: Immunologie et Neurogénétique Expérimentales et Moléculaires - UMR7355 CNRS - 3b , Orléans , France ; Université d'Orléans , Orléans , France.
authors.forename: Stéphane
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mortaud
keywords: autistic spectrum disorders; glufosinate ammonium; mice; neurodevelopment; pre- and postnatal exposure