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Gestational Exposure to Low Doses of Perfluorooctanoic Acid Increases Adiposity, but not Body Weight, of Adult Offspring
Citation:
GREY, B. E., K. Tatum-Gibbbs, C. LAU, K. DAS, C. E. GRACE, AND J. M. ROGERS. Gestational Exposure to Low Doses of Perfluorooctanoic Acid Increases Adiposity, but not Body Weight, of Adult Offspring. Presented at Teratology Society Annual Meeting, San Diego, CA, June 25 - 29, 2011.
Impact/Purpose:
This study was designed to examine effects of gestational PFOA exposure on body composition of offspring
Description:
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and other perfluoroalkyl acids have numerous industrial and consumer product applications. Studies in mice have demonstrated lower birth weight and higher neonatal mortality in mice after prenatal dosages exceeding 1 mg/kg/day. However, at dosages lower than 1 mg/kg/day PFOA, exposure led to elevated serum leptin concentrations. This study was designed to examine effects of gestational PFOA exposure on body composition of offspring. Timed pregnant CD-1 mice were orally gavaged from gestational day 1 -17 with dosages of 0, 0.01, 0.1, 0.3, 1 or 5 mg PFOA/kg/day. Body weight, survivability, and developmental markers were monitored in offspring. Body composition (percent fat, lean and fluid mass) of offspring was measured at 12 through 24 weeks of age using the Broker MiniSpec. Tissues were harvested throughout the study for analytical chemistry, enzyme levels, and expression of genes involved in regulation of metabolism and lipogenesis. Offspring of mice exposed to 5 mg/kg/day had lower birth weight and remained lighter than controls through 24 weeks. Female offspring exposed to O.lmg/kg/day and above displayed elevated percent body fat and reduced lean mass as compared to controls even though their weight gain was either reduced or unchanged whereas only males exposed to 5 mg/kg/day had higher body fat and lower lean mass than controls, even though their weight gain was lower. While unchanged in female offspring, males exposed to 5 mg/kg/day PFOA also had higher fluid mass than controls. These data suggest that PFOA exposure during development may be obesogenic, and that female offspring are more susceptible to this effect. This is an abstract of a proposed presentation and does not necessarily reflect EPA policy.