Chronic zebrafish PFOS exposure alters sex ratio and maternal related effects in F1 offspring

Abstract

Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) is an organic contaminant ubiquitous in the environment, wildlife, and humans. Few studies have assessed its chronic toxicity on aquatic organisms. The present study defined the effects of long-term exposure to PFOS on zebrafish development and reproduction. Specifically, zebrafish at 8 h postfertilization (hpf) were exposed to PFOS at 0, 5, 50, and 250 μg/L for five months. Growth suppression was observed in the 250 μg/L PFOS-treated group. The sex ratio was altered, with a significant female dominance in the high-dose PFOS group. Male gonad development was also impaired in a dose-dependent manner by PFOS exposure. Although female fecundity was not impacted, the F1 embryos derived from high-dose exposed females paired with males without PFOS exposure developed severe deformity at early development stages and resulted in 100% larval mortality at 7 d postfertilization (dpf). Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid quantification in embryos indicated that decreased larval survival in F1 offspring was directly correlated to the PFOS body burden, and larval lethality was attributable to maternal transfer of PFOS to the eggs. Lower-dose parental PFOS exposure did not result in decreased F1 survival; however, the offspring displayed hyperactivity of basal swimming speed in a light-to-dark behavior assessment test. These findings demonstrate that chronic exposure to PFOS adversely impacts embryonic growth, reproduction, and subsequent offspring development. Environ.

Per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFASs): Environmental challenges

“…Chronic early life stage exposure of zebra fish to PFOS adversely impacted embryonic development and reproduction, sex ratio, male gonad development and larval lethality [146,251]. PFOS concentration in eggs reduced hatching success in swallows [252].…”

“…Very long, up to C 15 PFCAs were detected in fish [56] and eggs of sea birds [54]. Transfer of PFOS from zebra fish to their eggs has been established [146]. The distribution and monitoring of PFAAs in wildlife has recently been reviewed [57].…”

Effects of elevated dissolved carbon dioxide and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, given singly and in combination, on steroidogenic and biotransformation pathways of Atlantic cod

“…Reproduction and the endocrine system of fish might be susceptible towards both endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) (Arcand-Hoy and Benson, 1998), multiple climatic and environmental stressors (Baroiller and D'Cotta, 2001;Schreck et al, 2001). PFOS has previously been found to affect endocrine parameters, sexual development and reproduction in fish (Ankley et al, 2005;Fang et al, 2012;Mortensen et al, 2011;Oakes et al, 2005;Wang et al, 2011). However, to our knowledge there are no studies that have examined in fish how elevated pCO2 might modulate the response to PFOS exposure on hormonal and biotransformation systems.…”

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) affects hormone receptor activity, steroidogenesis, and expression of endocrine‐related genes in vitro and in vivo

“…There is growing evidence that PFOS may disrupt the endocrine system [12,13]. In addition, PFOS and other PFCs have been shown to induce estrogendependent vitellogenin (VTG) production in primary-cultured tilapia hepatocytes [14].…”