Study advances on reproductive toxicity induced by glyphosate

Glyphosate is the most produced and widely used herbicide in the world, and has been reported a high residue level in the environment. Studies have shown that glyphosate exposure can lead to various health hazards, including liver and kidney toxicity, neurotoxicity, and even carcinogenicity. In addition, ever-growing studies have demonstrated that exposure to low concentrations of glyphosate may impact the synthesis and secretion of sex hormones, impair the functional structure of the reproductive system, interfere with the development and maturation of gametes, and lead to adverse pregnancy outcomes, suggesting that glyphosate has reproductive toxicity. Thus, the reproductive toxicity of glyphosate has aroused widespread concern, but the specific manifestations of reproductive health damage and its potential molecular mechanisms are still unclear. This review summarized recent studies on the reproductive toxicity of glyphosate in male mammals, female mammals, and non-mammalians. In addition, the possible molecular mechanisms of glyphosate to induce reproductive toxicity were analyzed from the aspects of endocrine interference effect, oxidative stress, and epigenetic modification. This review aimed to comprehensively evaluate the present status and advances on studies of reproductive toxicity of glyphosate, and provide a scientific basis for glyphosate health risk assessment and further exploring its reproductive health hazard.