Maternal exposure to perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) during pregnancy: evidence of adverse maternal and fetoplacental effects in New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits.
Journal Article (Journal Article)
Perfluorobutanesulfonic acid (PFBS) is a replacement for perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) that is increasingly detected in drinking water and human serum. Higher PFBS exposure is associated with risk for preeclampsia, the leading cause of maternal and infant morbidity and mortality in the United States. This study investigated relevant maternal and fetal health outcomes after gestational exposure to PFBS in a New Zealand White rabbit model. Nulliparous female rabbits were supplied drinking water containing 0 mg/l (control), 10 mg/l (low), or 100 mg/l (high) PFBS. Maternal blood pressure, body weights, liver and kidney weights histopathology, clinical chemistry panels, and thyroid hormone levels were evaluated. Fetal endpoints evaluated at necropsy included viability, body weights, crown-rump length, and liver and kidney histopathology, whereas placenta endpoints included weight, morphology, histopathology, and full transcriptome RNA sequencing. PFBS-high dose dams exhibited significant changes in blood pressure markers, seen through increased pulse pressure and renal resistive index measures, as well as kidney histopathological changes. Fetuses from these dams showed decreased crown-rump length. Statistical analysis of placental weight via a mixed model statistical approach identified a significant interaction term between PFBS high dose and fetal sex, suggesting a sex-specific effect on placental weight. RNA sequencing identified the dysregulation of angiotensin (AGT) in PFBS high-dose placentas. These results suggest that PFBS exposure during gestation leads to adverse maternal outcomes, such as renal injury and hypertension, and fetal outcomes, including decreased growth parameters and adverse placenta function. These outcomes raise concerns about pregnant women's exposure to PFBS and pregnancy outcomes.
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Crute, CE; Landon, CD; Garner, A; Hall, SM; Everitt, JI; Zhang, S; Blake, B; Olofsson, D; Chen, H; Stapleton, HM; Murphy, SK; Feng, L
Published Date
- February 17, 2023
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 191 / 2
Start / End Page
- 239 - 252
PubMed ID
- 36453863
Pubmed Central ID
- PMC9936209
Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)
- 1096-0929
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1093/toxsci/kfac126
Language
- eng
Conference Location
- United States