Low-dose Roundup induces developmental toxicity in bovine preimplantation embryos in vitro

Roundup is a widely used glyphosate-based herbicide worldwide. Roundup residues can be detected in the organs and urine of animals. However, its toxicity on mammalian preimplantation embryos has not been well investigated. Here, we show Roundup impairs the development and quality of bovine preimplantation embryos in a dose-dependent manner. Exposure to the agricultural recommended doses of Roundup caused in vitro developmental arrest and quick death of bovine embryos. Furthermore, even a very low concentration (0.9 ppm) of Roundup was harmful to bovine preimplantation development. In addition, Roundup increases intracellular calcium levels and induces oxidative stress and apoptosis in bovine embryos. Even if the embryos developed to morphologically normal blastocysts when cultured with low concentrations of Roundup, abnormal intracellular calcium and oxidative stress could be detected inside the embryos and led to an increased incidence of apoptosis in the blastocysts. These data suggest Roundup residues from the agricultural application are potentially dangerous to mammalian preimplantation embryos.