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Developmental toxicity of perfluorononanoic acid in the mouse.
Citation:
DAS, K., K. R. TATUM, R. ZEHR, C. R. WOOD, M. B. ROSEN, AND C. LAU. Developmental toxicity of perfluorononanoic acid in the mouse. Presented at 2009 Society of Toxicology Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, March 15 - 19, 2009.
Impact/Purpose:
To present at SOT Annual Meeting.
Description:
Toxicology Curriculum, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC Perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) is a persistent environmental contaminant. Although its levels in the environment are lower than those of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) or perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), its presence in humans appears to be on the rise. Previous studies have indicated developmental toxicity of PFOS and PFOA in the laboratory rodent models, the current study examines whether similar effects are extended to PFNA. PFNA was given to timed-pregnant CD-1 mice by oral gavage daily from GD 1-17 at 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg; controls received water. Like PFOS and PFOA, PFNA did not affect maternal weight gains, number of implantations, fetal viability or fetal weight. Maternal hepatomegaly and minor delays in anatomical development of the fetus were noted. Mouse pups were born alive and survival in the 1 and 3 mg/kg PFNA groups was not different from that in controls. In contrast, 80% of neonates exposed to 5 mg/kg PFNA died in the first 10 days of life. However, PFNA-induced neonatal death differed somewhat from that induced by PFOS or PFOA, in that pups exposed to PFNA survived a few days longer than those exposed to PFOS or PFOA, which typically died within the first 2-3 days of postnatal life. Surviving neonates exposed to PFNA exhibited dose-dependent deficits in growth and development (eye-opening, onset of puberty). In addition, increased liver weight seen in PFNA-exposed offspring persisted into adulthood and was likely related to the persistence of the chemical in the tissue. Evaluation of gene expression in fetal and neonatal livers revealed robust activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARα) molecular signals by PFNA that resembled the response of PFOA. Our results indicate similar developmental toxicity between PFNA and PFOA, and suggest that these effects are common to perfluoroalkyl acids that persist in the body. This abstract does not necessarily reflect US EPA policy.