Pancreatic function and histoarchitecture in Wistar rats following chronic exposure to Bushfire®: the mitigating role of zinc

OBJECTIVES: To assess the toxicopathologic effects of chronic exposure to the glyphosate-based herbicide Bushfire® on the pancreas of Wistar rats and the protective role of zinc. METHODS: We exposed the rats to daily doses of 14.4 to 750 mg/kg body weight of the glyphosate-based herbicide Bushfire® and to 50 or 100 mg/kg zinc, and measured blood glucose levels and serum insulin levels. Tissue samples were evaluated for histopathological alterations. RESULTS: Levels of both blood glucose and serum insulin increased in glyphosate-exposed rats, and moderate to severe degenerative changes were observed in both glandular pancreatic acinar cells and islets of Langerhans in all rats exposed to glyphosate. These effects were prevented by pretreatment with zinc. CONCLUSION: Chronic exposure to glyphosate can alter pancreatic function and histoarchitecture, but zinc supplementation can mitigate these toxicopathologic effects.