You are here:
Developmental Toxicity of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (Pfoa) After Cross Foster and Restricted Gestational Exposures.
Citation:
WOLF, C. J., S. E. FENTON, J. E. SCHMID, A. M. CALAFAT, Z. KUKLENYIK, J. R. THIBODEAUX, K. DAS, S. S. WHITE, C. S. LAU, AND B. D. ABBOTT. Developmental Toxicity of Perfluorooctanoic Acid (Pfoa) After Cross Foster and Restricted Gestational Exposures. TOXICOLOGICAL SCIENCES. Society of Toxicology, RESTON, VA, 95(2):462-473, (2007).
Impact/Purpose:
To consider the impact of restricting exposure to Perfluorooctanoic acid to specific gestational periods
Description:
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a compound which persists and is found ubiquitously in the environment, wildlife and humans. PFOA affects growth, development and viability of offspring of mice exposed during pregnancy. This study segregates the contributions of gestational and lactational exposures and considers the impact of restricting exposure to specific gestational periods. Pregnant CD-1 mice were dosed on gestation days (GD)1¿17 with 0, 3 or 5 mg PFOA/kg body weight and pups were fostered at birth to give 7 exposure groups: control, in utero exposed to 3 or 5 mg/kg, lactationally exposed via milk of dams dosed during pregnancy with 3 or 5 mg/kg, or in utero+lactational (control, 3U, 5U, 3L, 5L, 3U+L and 5U+L, respectively). In the restricted exposure (RE) study, pregnant mice received 5 mg PFOA/kg from GD7-17, 10-17, 13-17, or 15-17, or 20 mg on GD15-17. In all PFOA-treated groups, dam weight gain, number of implantations, and live litter size were not adversely affected and relative liver weight increased. Pup birth weights were reduced by 5 mg/kg treatment. Pup survival decreased in 5U+L litters. Body weight deficits, delays in eye opening and in body hair growth occurred in 3U+L, 5U, and 5U+L pups. In the RE study, birth weights were lower in GD7-17 and 10-17 groups (5 mg/kg). Birth weight and survival were reduced at 20 mg/kg GD15-17. Pup weights were reduced in all groups, but GD7-17 and 10-17 groups had more severe deficits and delays in eye opening and growth of body hair. In conclusion, the developmental effects of PFOA are predominantly due to gestational exposure. Exposure earlier in gestation produced stronger responses, but further study is needed to determine if this is a function of higher total dose or if there is a developmentally sensitive period.