Endocrine disruptor effect of perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on porcine ovarian cell steroidogenesis

- In stimulated theca cells, PFCs inhibit progesterone and androstenedione secretion.
- In stimulated granulose cells, PFCs inhibit progesterone and estradiol secretion.
- PFOS and PFOA act as endocrine disruptors in steroidogenic ovaric cells.

Previous studies with perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) indicate that they act as endocrine disruptors, in addition to inducing alterations and damaging reproductive health; however, the biological mechanisms by which these disorders are produced are not yet understood. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of PFOS and PFOA on in vitro steroidogenic secretion in porcine theca and granulosa cells, with or without gonadotropic stimulation. Granulosa and theca cells were isolated and cultured. Cell nature was performed by immunocytochemistry. PFOS and PFOA effect on steroid secretion was analyzed by chemiluminescence. In the present study, alterations in steroidogenic secretion were found when administering PFOS (0.12, 1.2, 12, 120 or 240 μM) or PFOA (0.012, 0.12, 1.2, 12 or 24 μM) to theca and granulosa cells. When theca and granulosa cells were stimulated with 500 ng/mL LH or 500 ng/mL FHS, respectively and immediately followed with 1.2 μM of PFOS or PFOA, the perfluorinated compounds inhibited the secretion of steroid hormones in both stimulated cell types. The results indicate that PFOS and PFOA act on steroidogenic ovarian cells as endocrine disruptors, which could affect the dependent functions of sexual steroids.