Inhibition effects of perfluoroalkyl acids on progesterone production in mLTC-1

J Environ Sci (China). 2017 Jun:56:272-280. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2016.08.026. Epub 2016 Nov 4.

Abstract

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are a class of fluorine substituted carboxylic acid, sulfonic acid and alcohol, structurally similar to their corresponding parent compounds. Previous study demonstrated the potential endocrine disruption and reproductive toxicity of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid, two dominant PFASs in animals and humans. We explored the relationship between eleven perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) with different carbon chain length and their ability to inhibit progesterone production in mouse Leydig tumor cells (mLTC-1). We found an obvious dose-response relationship between progesterone inhibition rate and PFAA exposure concentration in mLTC-1. The relative inhibition rate of progesterone by PFAAs was linearly related to the carbon chain length and molar refractivity of PFAAs. Mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP) decreased after PFAA exposure at the half-maximal inhibitory effect concentration (IC50) of progesterone production in mLTC-1, while the reactive oxygen species (ROS) content increased significantly. These results imply that the inhibition effect of PFAAs on progesterone production might be due, in part, to ROS damage and the decrease in MMP in mLTC-1.

Keywords: Mitochondrial membrane potential; Perfluoroalkyl substances; Progesterone; Reactive oxygen species.

MeSH terms

  • Alkanesulfonic Acids / toxicity*
  • Animals
  • Caprylates / toxicity*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Fluorocarbons / toxicity*
  • Mice
  • Progesterone / metabolism*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species / metabolism

Substances

  • Alkanesulfonic Acids
  • Caprylates
  • Fluorocarbons
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Progesterone
  • perfluorooctanoic acid
  • perfluorooctane sulfonic acid