Exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate in utero reduces testosterone production in rat fetal Leydig cells

PLoS One. 2014 Jan 14;9(1):e78888. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0078888. eCollection 2014.

Abstract

Background: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a synthetic material that has been widely used in industrial applications for decades. Exposure to PFOS has been associated with decreased adult testosterone level, and Leydig cell impairment during the time of adulthood. However, little is known about PFOS effects in utero on fetal Leydig cells (FLC).

Methods and results: The present study investigated effects of PFOS on FLC function. Pregnant Sprague Dawley female rats received vehicle (0.05% Tween20) or PFOS (5, 20 mg/kg) by oral gavage from gestational day (GD) 11-19. At GD20, testosterone (T) production, FLC numbers and ultrastructure, testicular gene and protein expression levels were examined. The results indicate that exposures to PFOS have affected FLC function as evidenced by decreased T production, impaired FLC, reduced FLC number, and decreased steroidogenic capacity and cholesterol level in utero.

Conclusion: The present study shows that PFOS is an endocrine disruptor of male reproductive system as it causes reduction of T production and impairment of rat fetal Leydig cells.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Alkanesulfonic Acids / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Apoptosis / drug effects
  • Cell Count
  • Cell Size / drug effects
  • Cholesterol / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fetus / cytology*
  • Fetus / drug effects*
  • Fetus / physiology
  • Fluorocarbons / toxicity*
  • Gene Expression Regulation / drug effects
  • Leydig Cells / drug effects
  • Male
  • Maternal Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Pregnancy
  • Rats
  • Rats, Sprague-Dawley
  • Reproduction / drug effects
  • Testosterone / biosynthesis*

Substances

  • Alkanesulfonic Acids
  • Fluorocarbons
  • Testosterone
  • Cholesterol
  • perfluorooctane sulfonic acid

Grants and funding

This work was supported in part by Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 81102149 and No. 81372951 to Binghai Zhao, No. 81070329 to Yanhui Chu) and the Heilongjiang Province Education Fund (1252G065) to Binghai Zhao. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.