Differential effects of peripubertal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid on mammary gland development in C57Bl/6 and Balb/c mouse strains.
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a common and persistent industrial byproduct detected in human sera, has raised health concerns. PFOA is detrimental to lactational function and postnatal mammary gland development in CD-1 mice after gestational exposure. We have examined the peripubertal period (21 through 50 days of age) as an important window of mammary gland susceptibility to environmental exposures that may affect breast cancer risk later in life. The effects of PFOA (0.1-10mg/kg BW) were examined in Balb/c and C57BL/6 mice. PFOA treatment caused hepatocellular hypertrophy and delayed vaginal opening in both mouse strains. While Balb/c mice exhibited only inhibition of mammary gland and uterine development (5, 10mg/kg), C57BL/6 mice exhibited stimulatory effects in both organs at low dose (5mg/kg) and inhibition at higher dose (10mg/kg). This underscores the need for caution when drawing conclusions about the effects of PFOA and possibly other environmental pollutants on the basis of studies in a single mouse strain.
Yang
Chengfeng
C
Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States.
Tan
Ying S
YS
Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States.
Harkema
Jack R
JR
Center for Integrative Toxicology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States.
Haslam
Sandra Z
SZ
Department of Physiology, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States; Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center, Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI 48824, United States. Electronic address: shaslam@msu.edu.
D000818:Animals; D002210:Caprylates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D005466:Fluorocarbons / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006128:Growth / Q000187:drug effects*; D008321:Mammary Glands, Animal / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D051379:Mice; D008807:Mice, Inbred BALB C; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D013045:Species Specificity
D002210:Caprylates; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005466:Fluorocarbons; C023036:perfluorooctanoic acid