# Effects of environmental contaminants on anxiety-like and fear behaviors, and gut-microbiota in rodents

> **NIH NIH R21** · UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES · 2022 · $223,500

## Abstract

Project Summary
 Our goal is to understand the effects of environmental contaminants, namely glyphosate, on
anxiety-like and fear-related behaviors, and determine possible links between gut microbial
imbalances and behavioral deficits. The increased risk of human exposure to chemicals from
food preservatives, agriculture and industrial production suggests a link between exposure to
environmental toxins, such as glyphosate, and the development of neurological and emotional
disorders. Glyphosate, the active ingredient in glyphosate-based herbicides, was initially
considered safe for mammals since it exerts its effect by inhibiting a metabolic route not present
in mammals. However, this enzyme is found in microorganism, making the gut microbiota likely
susceptible to damage by glyphosate. Given that the gut microbiota benefits the host, by acting
as a defense against pathogens, producing neurotransmitters such as serotonin, and regulating
normal brain function, disturbances of the gut microbiota may contribute to neural pathogenesis
by generating a cascade of events which lead to emotional dysregulation. Thus, glyphosate can
impact the health of animals by acting against their gut microbes. The influence of glyphosate
on anxiety-like and fear-related behaviors is unclear. To evaluate the potential relationship
between the influence of glyphosate on anxiety, fear, and gut microbiota, a link must be
examined. Understanding how glyphosate impacts rat gut symbionts, their behavior and brain
pathophysiology will help elucidate a possible role of this chemical to anxiety and fear. We will
give either glyphosate-contaminated drinking water or filtered water, to adult rats, and perform
behavioral studies for anxiety-like and fear-related behaviors. We hypothesize that prolonged
drinking of glyphosate-contaminated water will lead to increased anxiety-like and fear-related
behaviors. In addition, by evaluating for changes in the composition of gut microbiota, we will
identify microbial imbalances that may correlate with the development of emotional disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10433395
- **Project number:** 1R21ES034191-01
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF PUERTO RICO MED SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** FILIPA GODOY-VITORINO
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $223,500
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2022-09-01 → 2024-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10433395

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10433395, Effects of environmental contaminants on anxiety-like and fear behaviors, and gut-microbiota in rodents (1R21ES034191-01). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10433395. Licensed CC0.

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