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Effect of prepubertal exposure to perflourooctanoic acid on testicular functions in rats at their
adulthood

1
1 Ramanadhapuram Pavani, Sri Bhashyam Sainath*

1 Department of Biotechnology, Vikrama Simhapuri University, Nellore-524 324, AP, India.

*Corresponding author: drsainath@vsu.ac.in

Abstract:

The present investigation was aimed to determine the effect of prepubertal exposure to
perflourooctanoic acid (PFOA) on testicular spermatogenesis and steroidogenesis in rats at their
adulthood. Prepubertal rats at the age of 27 ± 3 days were randomly allocated into two groups, wherein,
rats in group I served as controls (received only vehicle) and animals in group II were treated as
experimental rats (received PFOA). After completion of experimental period, selected male
reproductive endpoints were determined. PFOA exposure significantly deteriorated the weights of testis
and epididymis, sperm indicators like sperm viability, sperm motility, sperm membrane integrity and
sperm density, activity levels of testicular steroidogenic marker enzymes 3β- and 17β-hydroxysteroid
dehydrogenase (HSD) and serum testosterone levels in rats over controls. The mRNA expression levels
of StAR, 3β- and 17β-HSDs were down-regulated, while up regulation of caspase-3 was observed in
the testis of PFOA treated rats. Significant elevation of lipid peroxidation levels associated with
significant reduction in the activity levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione-based enzymes
like glutathione reductase and glutathione peroxidase and reduced glutathione were observed in PFOA
treated rats over controls. From the results, it can be concluded that the exposure of prepubertal rats to
PFOA-induced testicular toxicity at least in part mediate reduced steroidogenesis and elevated oxidative
stress.

Keywords: Perflourooctanoic acid, mRNA expression, Caspase-3, Spermatogenesis