2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase
Document Type
Student Presentation
Presentation Date
4-24-2026
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Sydney Boutros
Abstract
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is characterized by a progressive loss of dopamine neurons in the brain, leading to symptoms such as tremors, poor balance and bradykinesia. PD has a unique pathology: Lewy bodies, which are primarily comprised of phosphorylated alpha-synuclein (p-Syn), spread through synaptic connections. Yet, it is unclear how the first Lewy body starts. Recently, evidence suggests that environmental influences such as pesticides and herbicides might initiate PD pathology. The most widely-used herbicide is glyphosate, the main chemical in products such as RoundUp. Thus, we tested if glyphosate in water could lead to PD-like pathology in a mouse model. A total of 72 mice were used in this study: 36 mice received normal water, and 36 mice received water with 0.075% w/v of RoundUp continuously for 6 months. We collected brain tissue from these animals for immunohistochemistry analysis of the amount of pSyn. We are measuring pSyn in brain regions including the striatum, motor cortex, and somatosensory cortex. We hypothesize that chronic glyphosate exposure increases pSyn pathology. We will present preliminary results at this showcase.
Recommended Citation
Hettel, Katie; Carver, Kaitlyn; Wilson, Sabrina; Walker, Trevor; Naymik, Tyra; and Boutros, Sydney, "The Impact of Glyphosate on Parkinson’s Pathology in a Mouse Model" (2026). 2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase. 83.
https://scholarworks.boisestate.edu/under_showcase_2026/83