Glyphosate modifies the gene expression and migration of trophoblastic cells without altering the process of angiogenesis or the implantation of blastocysts in vitro.

Adverse pregnancy outcomes have been associated with the presence of glyphosate (G) in umbilical cord, serum, and urine samples from pregnant women. Our aim was to study the effect of G on blastocyst implantation using an in vitro mouse model, and the migration and acquisition of endothelial phenotype of the human trophoblastic HTR8/SVneo (H8) cells. In mouse blastocysts, no differences in attachment time and implantation outgrowth area were observed after G exposure. H8 cell migration was stimulated by 0.625 µM G without cytotoxicity. After 6 h, the mRNA expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and C-C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) was upregulated in H8 cells exposed to 1.25 µM G when compared vehicle-treated cells (p ≤ 0.05). No differences were observed in interleukin 11, VEGF receptor 1, and coagulation factor II thrombin receptor in H8 cells exposed to different concentrations of G for 6 h compared to the vehicle. Interestingly, exposure to G did not alter angiogenesis as measured by a tube formation assay. Taken all together, these results suggest that G exposure may contribute as a risk factor during pregnancy, due to its ability to alter trophoblast migration and gene expression.

µ-Acetato-µ-aqua-µ-hydroxido-bis[(1,10-phenanthroline)copper(II)] dinitrate monohydrate.

The triply bridged title dinuclear copper(II) compound, [Cu(2)(C(2)H(3)O(2))(OH)(C(12)H(8)N(2))(2)(H(2)O)](NO(3))(2)·H(2)O, (I), consists of a [Cu(2)(µ(2)-CH(3)COO)(µ(2)-OH)(phen)(2)(µ(2)-OH(2))](2+) cation (phen is 1,10-phenanthroline), two uncoordinated nitrate anions and one water molecule. The title cation contains a distorted square-pyramidal arrangement around each metal centre with a CuN(2)O(3) chromophore. In the dinuclear unit, both Cu(II) ions are linked through a hydroxide bridge and a triatomic bridging carboxylate group, and at the axial positions through a water molecule. The phenanthroline groups in neighbouring dinuclear units interdigitate along the [010] direction, generating several π-π contacts which give rise to planar arrays parallel to (001). These are in turn connected by hydrogen bonds involving the aqua and hydroxide groups as donors with the nitrate anions as acceptors. Comparisons are made with isostructural compounds having similar cationic units but different counter-ions; the role of hydrogen bonding in the overall three-dimensional structure and its ultimate effect on the cell dimensions are discussed.