Effect of perfluorooctane sulfonate on viability, maturation and gap junctional intercellular communication of porcine oocytes in vitro. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Domínguez, A.; Salazar, Z.; Arenas, E.; Betancourt, M.; Ducolomb, Y.; González-Márquez, H.; Casas, E.; Teteltitla, M.; Bonilla, E.
• Is Part Of: Toxicology in vitro. Volume 35(2016)
• Page Start: 93
• Page End: 99
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: PFOS -- Oocyte maturation -- Gap junction -- Connexin; Toxicity testing -- In vitro -- Periodicals; Toxicology -- Periodicals; 615.9
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2016.05.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0887-2333

Abstract

Abstract: Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) is a broadly used man-made surfactant whose long half-life has led to bioaccumulation. This perfluorinated compound is ubiquitous in human body fluids. PFOS concentrations as high as 26 μM in plasma have been reported in occupationally exposed populations, and high levels of PFOS in human follicular fluid have been associated with subfertility. However, the effect of PFOS on the maturation of oocytes in mammals has not been reported to date. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of PFOS during oocyte maturation. Results indicate that PFOS inhibits oocyte viability (Lethal Concentration50 = 32 μM) and maturation (inhibition of maturation50 = 22 μM) at physiologically relevant concentrations. In order to evaluate the mechanisms of oocyte maturation inhibition by PFOS, gap junctional intercellular communication (GJIC) between oocytes and granulosa cells was assessed. GJIC between granulosa cells and the oocyte was significantly affected during the first 8 h of maturation. However, the inhibitory effect of PFOS on GJIC was not due to an alteration on the expression of connexin genes Cx43, Cx45 and Cx60 . These findings suggest that occupationally exposed populations could be at risk, and that PFOS might affect oocyte maturation by interfering the GJIC in the cumulus-oocyte complexes during the first hours of maturation. Highlights: PFOS is cytotoxic for oocytes in vitro (LC50 = 32 μM). PFOS inhibits pig oocyte maturation in vitro (IM50 = 22 μM). GJIC early disruption may be the mechanism of oocyte maturation inhibition by PFOS. GJIC rupture in PFOS-exposed COCs is probably not based on connexins downregulation.