Toxico-pathological effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in normal and diabetic male guinea pigs following oral exposure

Abstract

Researchers have reported the global distribution and the hazards of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in human and wildlife. Recently, the relationships between PFOA exposure and surge in total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL-C, HDL-C and diabetes were detected in workers. However, rodents are probably a poor model for studying PFOA toxicity regarding lipid disturbance following human exposure due to the reverse effects.

The goal of the present study is to present a useful animal toxicity model to evaluate the disturbance of lipid and glucose concentrations associated with increased blood levels of PFOA for 4 weeks.  

Total of 40 male guinea pigs were randomly selected and grouped into four equal groups. The first group (G1) served as the control. The second group (G2) was alloxan induced diabetic. The third group (G3) was exposed to PFOA at 100 mg/kg BW orally. Group four (G4) was diabetic guinea pig exposed to PFOA at 100 mg/kg BW.

Serum blood glucose, lipid profiles and histopathological changes in the pancreas, liver and kidney were evaluated.

The results showed that fasting blood glucose and lipid profiles concentrations were significantly increased (p<0.05) in G3 and G4 compared with control (G1) and diabetic group (G2). Animals treated with PFOA showed histopathological alterations such hepatic steatosis with signet ring appearance, necrotic alteration of renal tubular epithelium and coalescing Langerhans islet with prominent pancreatic cell hyperplasia.

In conclusion, after 4 weeks, positive associations of PFOA with serum glucose, have been observed in non- diabetic and diabetic animals exposed to PFOA. Further, administration of PFOA caused histopathological changes in the pancreas, liver and kidney in the diabetic and non-diabetic animals. Our results supported the assumption that disturbance in serum lipid and glucose concentrations following PFOA exposure in guinea pigs can mimic a realistic human exposure situation.