A Species Difference in the Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor α-Dependent Response to the Developmental Effects of Perfluorooctanoic Acid

This study examined the effect of prenatal perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) administration on pre- and postnatal development using peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα)-humanized mice to determine if species differences in receptor activity might influence the developmental effects induced by PFOA. Pregnant mice were treated daily with water or PFOA (3mg/kg) by po gavage from gestation day 1 (GD1) until GD17 and then either euthanized on GD18 or allowed to give birth and then euthanized on postnatal day 20 (PND20). No changes in average fetal weight, crown-to-rump length, or placental weight were observed on GD18. Expression of mRNA encoding the PPARα target genes acyl CoA oxidase (Acox1) and cytochrome P450 4a10 (Cyp4a10) in maternal and fetal liver was increased on GD18 in wild-type and PPARα-humanized mice but not in Pparα-null mice. On PND20, relative liver weight was higher in wild-type mice but not in Pparα-null mice or PPARα-humanized mice. Hepatic expression of Acox1 and Cyp4a10 mRNA was higher in wild-type mice but not in Pparα-null mice or PPARα-humanized mice on PND20. The percentage of mice surviving postnatally was lower in wild-type litters but not in litters from Pparα-null mice or PPARα-humanized mice. No changes in pup weight gain, onset of eye opening, or mammary gland development were found in any genotype. Results from these studies demonstrate that the developmental/postnatal effects resulting from prenatal PFOA exposure in mice are differentially mediated by mouse and human PPARα.