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Exposure to Perfluorononanoic acid during pregnancy: Evaluations of rat and mice model
Citation:
Das, K. P., C. Wood, D. Zehr, K. Tatum-Gibbs, B. Grey, M. Rosen, AND C. LAU. Exposure to Perfluorononanoic acid during pregnancy: Evaluations of rat and mice model. Presented at EPA/PFAA Days III, Research Triangle Park, NC, June 08 - 10, 2010.
Impact/Purpose:
Our results indicate developmental toxicity of PFNA comparable to that of PFOA, suggesting these effects are common to perfluoroalkyl acids that persist in the body.
Description:
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 is rising and is of concern. Previous studies have indicated developmental toxicity of PFOS and PFOA in the laboratory rodent models. The current study examines developmental toxic effects of PFNA in rats and mice. PFNA was given to timed-pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats from GD 1-21 and to CD-l mice from GD 1-17 by oral gavage daily at 1, 3, and 5 mg/kg; controls received water. Like PFOS and PFOA, PFNA did not affect maternal weight gain, number of implantations, fetal viability or fetal weight in both species. Maternal hepatomegaly and minor delays in anatomical development of the fetus were noted both in rats and mice. Mouse pups were born alive and survival in the 1 and 3 mglkg PFNA groups was not different from that in controls. In contrast, 80% of 5 mg/kg PFNA exposed mice neonates died within the first 10 days of life, whereas no neonatal death was observed in the rat. However, PFNA-induced neonatal death differed somewhat from that induced by PFOS or PFOA, in that PFNA-exposed pups survived a few days longer than those exposed to PFOS or PFOA, which typically died within the first 2-3 days of postnatal life. In rat pups exposed to 5 mg/kg PFNA had significantly lower birth weight than controls (16%), which remained lower than controls through early postnatal development. Surviving mice neonates exposed to PFNA exhibited dose-dependent deficits in growth and development (eye-opening, onset ofpuberty). In addition, increased liver weight seen in PFNA-exposed offspring persisted into adulthood and was likely related to the persistence ofthe chemical in the tissue. Evaluation of gene expression in fetal and neonatal livers revealed robust activation of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-alpha (PPARa) genes and molecular signals by PFNA that resembled the response of PFOA. Our results indicate developmental toxicity of PFNA comparable to that of PFOA, suggesting these effects are common to perfluoroalkyl acids that persist in the body. This abstract does not necessarily reflect U.S. EPA policy