Effects of perfluorooctanoic acid exposure during pregnancy on the reproduction and development of male offspring mice

This study was conducted to explore the effects of maternal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on reproduction and development of male offspring mice. Pregnant mice were given 1, 2.5 or 5 mg/kg BW PFOA daily by gavage during gestation. The results showed that the survival number of offspring mice at weaning was significantly decreased. There were no differences in the testicular index of offspring mice between PFOA exposure groups and non-PFOA group. Maternal exposure to PFOA reduced the level of testosterone in the male offspring mice on PND 21 (p < 0.01) but increased in 1 mg/kg group and decreased in 2.5 and 5 mg/kg groups on PND 70 (p < 0.01). There were different degrees of damage to testis in a dose dependent manner, and the number of Leydig cells markedly decreased (p < 0.01) in 2.5 and 5 mg/kg PFOA groups on PND 21 and PND 70. The expression of Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted gene cluster showed a decreasing trend, where Glt2, Rian and Dio3 gene expressions were significantly reduced (p < 0.05) on PND 21. Therefore, PFOA exposure during pregnancy reduces the number of survival offspring mice, damages testis, disrupts reproductive hormones and reduces the mRNA expressions of the Dlk1-Dio3 imprinted cluster in testis.