Histopathological Evidence of Liver and Spleen Alterations Following Sub-Chronic Glyphosate Exposure in Wistar Rats

Abstract

Glyphosate-based herbicides are extensively used worldwide, raising and increasing concerns regarding their potential toxicological effects on non-target organisms. This study evaluated the effects of sub-chronic exposure to a commercial glyphosate-based herbicide on histopathological alterations in the liver and spleen of Wistar rats, with oxidative stress and inflammation related changes inferred from tissue morphology and supported by existing mechanistic evidence in the literature. Sixty adult Wistar rats (n = 5 per group) were randomly assigned to one control and four treatment groups and orally administered graded doses of 0.1, 0.a, 0.5,0.7, and 0.9 mg/kg body weight once daily for 28 consecutive days. Histopathological assessment was performed using hematoxylin and eosin staining, and lesion severity was semi-quantitatively scored on a standardized grading scale. Results demonstrated a significant dose-dependent increase in hepatic lesions. Mild hepatocellular degeneration was observed in 25% of rats at 0.1 mg/kg, whereas 75–90% of rats exposed to 0.7–0.9 mg/kg exhibited marked hepatocellular degeneration, sinusoidal congestion, and inflammatory infiltration (p < 0.05 vs. control). Hepatic lesion severity scores increased from 0.4 ± 0.2 in controls to 3.6 ± 0.3 in the highest dose group. Similarly, splenic architectural disruption was observed in 20% of low-dose animals and increased to 80% in high-dose groups, characterized by lymphoid follicle depletion, red pulp congestion, and inflammatory infiltration (p < 0.05). Overall, glyphosate exposure produced a statistically significant, dose-related increase in histopathological damage in both organs. Although oxidative stress and inflammatory pathways were not directly quantified, the observed structural alterations are consistent with previously reported oxidative and inflammatory mechanisms of glyphosate toxicity. These findings highlight the potential systemic risks associated with repeated glyphosate exposure and underscore the importance of integrated multi-organ toxicity assessment in regulatory safety evaluations.