The expression of several reproductive hormone receptors can be modified by perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) in adult male rats

• PFOS can alter gene and protein expression of GnRHr, LHr, FSHr and Ar in the HPT axis.
• PFOS inhibits both gene and protein expression of FSHr and Ar at testicular level.
• PFOS surprisingly stimulates the protein GnRHr and the gene LHr expression in testis.
• PFOS can disrupt the HPT axis by altering several hormone receptors in adult male rat.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the possible role of several reproductive hormone receptors on the disruption of the hypothalamic-pituitary-testis (HPT) axis activity induced by perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS). The studied receptors are the gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHr), luteinizing hormone receptor (LHr), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHr), and the androgen receptor (Ar). Adult male rats were orally treated with 1.0; 3.0 and 6.0 mg of PFOS kg−1 d−1 for 28 days. In general terms, PFOS can modify the relative gene and protein expressions of these receptors in several tissues of the reproductive axis. At the testicular level, apart from the expected inhibition of both gene and protein expressions of FSHr and Ar, PFOS also stimulates the GnRHr protein and the LHr gene expression. The receptors of the main hormones involved in the HPT axis may have an important role in the disruption exerted by PFOS on this axis.