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Exposure to Glyphosate- and/or Mn/Zn-Ethylene-bis-Dithiocarbamate-Containing Pesticides Leads to Degeneration of γ-Aminobutyric Acid and Dopamine Neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans

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Abstract

Previous studies demonstrate a positive correlation between pesticide usage and Parkinson’s disease (PD), which preferentially targets dopaminergic (DAergic) neurons. In order to examine the potential relationship between two common pesticides and specific neurodegeneration, we chronically (24 h) or acutely (30 min) exposed two Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) strains to varying concentrations (LC25, LC50 or LC75) of TouchDown® (TD) as percent active ingredient (glyphosate), or Mancozeb® (MZ) as percent active ingredient (manganese/zinc ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate). Furthermore, to more precisely model environmental exposure, worms were also exposed to TD for 30 min, followed by 30-min incubation with varying MZ concentrations. Previous data from out lab suggested general neuronal degeneration using the worm strain NW1229 (pan-neuronal//green fluorescent protein (GFP) construct). To determine whether distinct neuronal groups were preferentially affected, we specifically used EG1285 (GABAergic neurons//GFP construct) and BZ555 (DAergic neurons//GFP construct) worms to verify GABAergic and DAergic neurodegeneration, respectively. Results indicated a statistically significant decrease, when compared to controls (CN), in number of green pixels associated with GABAergic neurons in both chronic (*P < 0.05) and acute (*P < 0.05) treatment paradigms. Analysis of the BZ555 worms indicated a statistically significant decrease (*P < 0.05) in number of green pixels associated with DAergic neurons in both treatment paradigms (chronic and acute) when compared to CN. Taken together, our data suggest that exposure to TD and/or MZ promotes neurodegeneration in both GABAergic and DAergic neurons in the model organism C. elegans.

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Acknowledgment

This work was supported by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences [R15 ES015628 to VF] and by the Appalachian College Association Colonel Lee B. Ledford Endowment Fund [to RN, AJ and VF].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biology, King College, 1350 King College Road, Bristol, TN, 37620, USA

    Rekek Negga, J. Andrew Stuart, Morgan L. Machen, Joel Salva, Amanda J. Lizek, S. Jayne Richardson, Amanda S. Osborne, Oriol Mirallas, Kenneth A. McVey & Vanessa A. Fitsanakis

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  1. Rekek Negga
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  2. J. Andrew Stuart
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  3. Morgan L. Machen
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  4. Joel Salva
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  10. Vanessa A. Fitsanakis
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Correspondence to Vanessa A. Fitsanakis.

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Negga, R., Stuart, J.A., Machen, M.L. et al. Exposure to Glyphosate- and/or Mn/Zn-Ethylene-bis-Dithiocarbamate-Containing Pesticides Leads to Degeneration of γ-Aminobutyric Acid and Dopamine Neurons in Caenorhabditis elegans . Neurotox Res 21, 281–290 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12640-011-9274-7

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