EFFECTS OF PUBERTAL ATRAZINE EXPOSURE ON BIOMETRIC AND METABOLIC PARAMETERS IN ADULT MICE

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effects of pubertal exposure to an atrazine-based herbicide (ABH) on biometric and metabolic parameters in adult male and female C57BL/6 mice. Materials and Methods: Male and female C57BL/6 mice were orally exposed daily to 5 mg/kg of ABH (ATZ group) or distilled water [control group (CTL)] from postnatal week 5 to week 8. After exposure, animals had ad libitum access to standard chow and filtered water until 18 weeks of age. At euthanasia, blood and tissues were collected for subsequent analyses. Results: Pubertal ABH exposure did not affect body weight, weight gain, Lee index, subcutaneous or visceral adiposity, or abdominal organ weights in either sex. However, ATZ-exposed females showed increased fed-state plasma triglyceride and cholesterol levels, and reduced fasting cholesterol, without changes in hepatic lipid content. In contrast, ATZ-exposed males displayed increased hepatic cholesterol content only. Conclusions: Although no significant biometric changes were observed, the findings suggest a sex-dependent modulation of lipid metabolism linked to metabolic programming induced by pubertal ABH exposure. These results highlight the need for further studies to elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying ABH action and their long-term implications for metabolic health.