Assessing perfluorooctanoic acid toxicity in lung, heart, and testis tissues of mice: Evaluation of protective effects of taurine and coenzyme Q10

: Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent compound which is associated with many negative effects on human health. In this study, possible oxidative stress inducing effects of PFOA and protective effects of taurine and coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) in lung, heart and testes of mice were investigated. Animals were administered 15 and 30 mg/kg doses of PFOA orally for 10 days. All three organ weights were found to be affected in response to PFOA while taurine seemed to be effective against absolute heart weight reduction. PFOA was also found to induce histopathological changes in lung tissue. 15 mg/kg of PFOA reduced catalase (CAT) activity in lung; increased malondialdehyde (MDA) and total glutathione (GSH) levels, activities of superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn SOD) and CAT in heart; and increased GSH levels and reduced Cu-Zn SOD and CAT activities in testes. On the other hand, 30 mg/kg PFOA treatment led to Cu-Zn SOD activity increase in lung; GSH level and Cu-Zn SOD activity increase in heart; and reduction of all three enzyme activities in testes. Taurine was found to be protective against Cu-Zn SOD activity increase in both lung and heart tissues, as well as against reduction of glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and CAT activities in the testes. CoQ10 seemed to protect against PFOA-induced increases in MDA levels in the heart tissue. These results suggest the oxidative stress involvement in the toxicity mechanism of an important environmental pollutant, PFOA, in lung, heart and testes of mice. Moreover, taurine and CoQ10 have protective role to some extent against PFOA-induced toxicity.