Effects of environmental contaminants on anxiety-like and fear behaviors, and gut-microbiota in rodents - Project Summary Our goal is to understand the effects of environmental contaminants, namely glyphosate, on anxiety-like and fear-related behaviors, and determine possible links between gut microbial imbalances and behavioral deficits. The increased risk of human exposure to chemicals from food preservatives, agriculture and industrial production suggests a link between exposure to environmental toxins, such as glyphosate, and the development of neurological and emotional disorders. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in glyphosate-based herbicides, was initially considered safe for mammals since it exerts its effect by inhibiting a metabolic route not present in mammals. However, this enzyme is found in microorganism, making the gut microbiota likely susceptible to damage by glyphosate. Given that the gut microbiota benefits the host, by acting as a defense against pathogens, producing neurotransmitters such as serotonin, and regulating normal brain function, disturbances of the gut microbiota may contribute to neural pathogenesis by generating a cascade of events which lead to emotional dysregulation. Thus, glyphosate can impact the health of animals by acting against their gut microbes. The influence of glyphosate on anxiety-like and fear-related behaviors is unclear. To evaluate the potential relationship between the influence of glyphosate on anxiety, fear, and gut microbiota, a link must be examined. Understanding how glyphosate impacts rat gut symbionts, their behavior and brain pathophysiology will help elucidate a possible role of this chemical to anxiety and fear. We will give either glyphosate-contaminated drinking water or filtered water, to adult rats, and perform behavioral studies for anxiety-like and fear-related behaviors. We hypothesize that prolonged drinking of glyphosate-contaminated water will lead to increased anxiety-like and fear-related behaviors. In addition, by evaluating for changes in the composition of gut microbiota, we will identify microbial imbalances that may correlate with the development of emotional disorders.
