Effects of a Forever Chemical on Arterial Blood Pressure and End-Organ Damage in Rats

Additional Authors

Zara Rashid, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN; Cole Story, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN; Alexandra Kreutzmann, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN; Rachel Grindstaff, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN George Youngberg, Department of Pathology, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN;

Abstract

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants linked to hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. This study’s purpose was to assess the effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a legacy PFAS, on arterial blood pressure (BP) and end-organ damage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. We hypothesized that administration of PFOA for 4 weeks causes hypertension and kidney damage in SD rats. Rats (10-13-week-old, n=12) were instrumented with a radiotelemeter (DSI) to measure BP and heart rate (HR). One week later, baseline BP (500 Hz, 24 hrs/day for two days) and proteinuria were assessed. One group of rats was administered PFOA via drinking water (10mg/kg/day, n=8) while another group was maintained on regular tap water (vehicle, n=4) for 28 days. BP was measured weekly, proteinuria at 2 and 4 weeks, and tissues were harvested at the end of the experiment. A 2-way repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test was used to assess differences between groups over time. An unpaired T-test was used to assess differences in organ weights between groups. All data are mean ± SE, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The percent increase in body weight (BW) was significantly attenuated in rats administered PFOA (9±2%) vs. vehicle (19±2%). Despite the lower BW in the PFOA group, kidney and liver weights were 34% and 89% greater (P<0.05) as compared to the vehicle group. There were no significant differences in the percent change in BP over time between groups. In contrast, the percent change in HR significantly differed between PFOA (3±1%) and vehicle (-8±1%) groups. A moderately high dose of PFOA for 4 weeks in SD rats leads to significant increases in kidney and liver weight without altering arterial BP. The extent of PFOA-induced kidney and liver injury is being assessed.

Start Time

16-4-2025 9:00 AM

End Time

16-4-2025 11:30 AM

Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Category

Health

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Faculty Mentor

Aaron Polichnowski

Faculty Department

Biomedical Sciences

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Apr 16th, 9:00 AM Apr 16th, 11:30 AM

Effects of a Forever Chemical on Arterial Blood Pressure and End-Organ Damage in Rats

Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent organic pollutants linked to hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD) in humans; however, the underlying mechanisms remain poorly defined. This study’s purpose was to assess the effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a legacy PFAS, on arterial blood pressure (BP) and end-organ damage in Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. We hypothesized that administration of PFOA for 4 weeks causes hypertension and kidney damage in SD rats. Rats (10-13-week-old, n=12) were instrumented with a radiotelemeter (DSI) to measure BP and heart rate (HR). One week later, baseline BP (500 Hz, 24 hrs/day for two days) and proteinuria were assessed. One group of rats was administered PFOA via drinking water (10mg/kg/day, n=8) while another group was maintained on regular tap water (vehicle, n=4) for 28 days. BP was measured weekly, proteinuria at 2 and 4 weeks, and tissues were harvested at the end of the experiment. A 2-way repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey post-hoc test was used to assess differences between groups over time. An unpaired T-test was used to assess differences in organ weights between groups. All data are mean ± SE, and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. The percent increase in body weight (BW) was significantly attenuated in rats administered PFOA (9±2%) vs. vehicle (19±2%). Despite the lower BW in the PFOA group, kidney and liver weights were 34% and 89% greater (P<0.05) as compared to the vehicle group. There were no significant differences in the percent change in BP over time between groups. In contrast, the percent change in HR significantly differed between PFOA (3±1%) and vehicle (-8±1%) groups. A moderately high dose of PFOA for 4 weeks in SD rats leads to significant increases in kidney and liver weight without altering arterial BP. The extent of PFOA-induced kidney and liver injury is being assessed.