Chronic exposure to perfluorododecanoic acid disrupts testicular steroidogenesis and the expression of related genes in male rats

Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA), a synthetic perfluorinated chemical, has been detected in environmental matrices, wildlife, and human serum. Its potential health risk for humans and animals has raised public concern. However, the effects of chronic PFDoA exposure on male reproduction remain unknown. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of chronic PFDoA exposure (110 days) on testosterone biosynthesis and the expression of genes related to steroidogenesis in male rats. In this study, we examined the serum levels of sex hormones, growth hormone, and insulin in male rats. Testicular morphology and the expression of key genes and proteins in testosterone biosynthesis were also analyzed. Markedly decreased serum testosterone levels were recorded after 110 days of PFDoA exposure at 0.2 mg PFDoA/kg/day and 0.5 mg PFDoA/kg/day, and cast-off cells were observed in some seminiferous tubules in testes exposed to 0.5 mg PFDoA/kg/day. PFDoA exposure resulted in significantly decreased protein levels of steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) and cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme (P450scc), along with significantly reduced mRNA levels of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), insulin-like growth factor I receptor (IGF-IR), and interleukin 1α (IL-1α) in rat testes at 0.2 mg/kg/day and 0.5 mg/kg/day. In addition, PFDoA exposure also affected the expression of some genes in the hypothalamo-neurohypophyseal system. However, PFDoA did not affect the expression of 5α-reductase, 3α-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase, or aromatase in testis and liver. These findings demonstrate that chronic PFDoA exposure disrupts testicular steroidogenesis and expression of related genes in male rats. Multiple factors may be involved in the inhibition of testosterone by PFDoA.