Effects of PFMOAA, An Understudied PFAS, on Developing Mice

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Erica J Stewart (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: Perfluoro-2-methoxyaacetic acid (PFMOAA) was recently the most prevalent emerging per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance (PFAS) detected in the Cape Fear River of North Carolina (NC). A byproduct of fluorochemical manufacturing, PFMOAA is one of the shortest short-chain PFAS and is understudied with respect to its toxicity although it has been linked with immunotoxicity in mice. Well-studied PFAS are known to be immunosuppressive in both adult and developing organisms. The immune system is sensitive to disruptions and insults during development and may have an influence on immune-related conditions later in life. This study investigated the developmental effects of PFMOAA in mice to better understand the immunotoxicity of this short-chain PFAS on developing organisms. Pregnant C57BL6 mice were given PFMOAA (0.0, 0.05, 0.5, or 1.0 mg/kg with 0.5% Tween) or a 5.0 mg/kg perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) positive control via gavage throughout gestation. B6C3F1 offspring were evaluated at postnatal days (PND) 21, 28, and 56 for organ weights, lymphoid organ cellularity was evaluated on PND 28 and 56, and T-cell dependent antibody responses (TDAR) and uterine wall thickness were evaluated on PND 56. Dams were euthanized after weaning, liver weights were recorded, and the thickness of the uterine wall of dams was evaluated. Liver weights of dams and PND 21 female offspring exposed to PFOS were increased by 17.9% and 9.9%, respectively, compared to controls. There were increases in several relative organ weights across dose groups as well as a decrease in relative kidney weight in the 0.05 mg/kg dose group at PND 21 for female offspring. There were increases in relative heart, kidney, and brain weights at PND 56 in males of the 0.5 mg/kg dose group and increases in relative heart, kidney, and spleen weights as well as a decrease in relative uterus weight for 0.05 mg/kg group females. At PND 28, both sexes had an increase in thymus cellularity in the 0.5 mg/kg dose group as did females in the PFOS dose group when compared to controls. Females in the 0.5 mg/kg dose group had decreases in spleen cellularity at PND 28 and 56, and males in the 0.5 mg/kg dose group had a decrease in spleen cellularity at PND 56. These data suggest that at the administered doses, PFMOAA has potential to induce developmental toxicity and additional studies are warranted to determine further health effects of gestational exposure to PFMOAA and other emerging short-chain PFAS.

Additional Information

Publication

Thesis

Language: English

Date: 2023

Subjects

PFAS;rodent;pfmoaa

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