ToxSci Advance Access published online on May 15, 2007
Toxicological Sciences, doi:10.1093/toxsci/kfm121
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Concurrent Exposure to Perfluorooctane Sulfonate (PFOS) and Restraint Stress during Pregnancy in Mice: Effects on Postnatal Development and Behavior of the Offspring
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* Psychobiology Unit, School of Psychology, "Rovira i Virgili" University, Sescelades Campus, 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, "Rovira i Virgili" University, San Lorenzo 21, 43201 Reus, Spain
1 To whom correspondence should be addressed at Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, "Rovira i Virgili" University, San Lorenzo 21, 43201 Reus, Spain. Fax: (34) 977-759322. E-mail: joseluis.domingo{at}urv.cat
Received March 16, 2007; revision received May 10, 2007; accepted May 10, 2007
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Abstract |
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The combined effects of maternal restraint stress and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on postnatal development and behavior of the offspring were assessed in mice. Thirty-four plug positive females were randomly divided into two groups. Animals were given by gavage 0 and 6 mg PFOS/kg/day on gestation days (GD) 12-18. One-half of the animals in each group was subjected to restraint stress (30 min/session, three sessions per day) during the same period. Neither restraint nor PFOS exposure significantly modified maternal food or water consumption. Pups of dams exposed to 6 mg/kg of PFOS showed a reduced body weight on postnatal days 4 and 8. Moreover, PFOS exposure induced some delay in developmental landmarks and neuromotor maturation. Maternal restraint stress reduced activity in an open-field when combined with 6 mg PFOS/kg/day. In addition, in males prenatal restraint stress impaired motor coordination in a rotarod. The current results indicate that concurrent exposure to PFOS and restraint stress during pregnancy induces opposite effects on developmental parameters in the pups. These effects consist in a general delayed maturation trend induced by PFOS exposure, and a general accelerated maturation pattern induced by prenatal stress. Interactive effects between PFOS and maternal stress were observed in young adult mice. These effects consisted mainly in a diminished activity in an open-field test.
Key Words: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS); maternal restraint; maternal behavior; interactions; developmental toxicity; postnatal behavior.