PFOA administration in rats with chronic kidney disease leads to kidney and liver hypertrophy and decreases blood pressure

Additional Authors

Aarna Patel, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee Zara Rashid, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee Emmaleigh Coffey, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee Alexandra Kreutzmann, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee Rachel Grindstaff, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, Tennessee George Youngberg, Department of Pathology, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a type of nonbiodegradable, man-made chemical used in many industrial applications. Exposure to PFAS is associated with harmful health impacts including hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Moreover, exposure to PFAS may worsen preexisting CKD and hypertension because the kidney is the main route of PFAS excretion from the body. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a legacy PFAS, on exacerbating hypertension and CKD in Dahl Salt-Sensitive (SS) rats, a genetic model of hypertension and CKD. Male Dahl SS rats (10 to 13-weeks-old, n=15) were instrumented with a radiotelemeter (DSI) to assess arterial blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). One week later, baseline BP (500 Hz, 24 hrs/day over 2 days) and proteinuria were assessed. Then, one group of rats was maintained on regular tap water (vehicle, n=5) or administered PFOA (10 mg/kg/day, n=10) for 4 weeks. BP was assessed weekly, proteinuria at 2 and 4 weeks, and organs were harvested at the end of the experiment. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis was used to assess differences between groups over time, and an unpaired t-test was used to assess differences in organ weights between groups. Data are mean±SE and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Despite similar body weights, both kidney (13%) and liver (52%) weights were significantly greater in PFOA vs. vehicle groups. The percent increase in mean arterial BP (mmHg) over time was significantly attenuated in rats administered PFOA (3.3±1) vs. vehicle (9±2). There were no significant differences in HR or proteinuria between groups. Contrary to our hypothesis, PFOA administration for 4 weeks blunted the age-related increase in BP in Dahl SS rats. Current experiments in the lab are evaluating kidney and liver injury.

Start Time

16-4-2025 1:30 PM

End Time

16-4-2025 4:00 PM

Presentation Type

Poster

Presentation Category

Health

Student Type

Undergraduate Student

Faculty Mentor

Aaron Polichnowski

Faculty Department

Biomedical Sciences

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Apr 16th, 1:30 PM Apr 16th, 4:00 PM

PFOA administration in rats with chronic kidney disease leads to kidney and liver hypertrophy and decreases blood pressure

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a type of nonbiodegradable, man-made chemical used in many industrial applications. Exposure to PFAS is associated with harmful health impacts including hypertension and chronic kidney disease (CKD). Moreover, exposure to PFAS may worsen preexisting CKD and hypertension because the kidney is the main route of PFAS excretion from the body. The goal of this study was to assess the effects of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a legacy PFAS, on exacerbating hypertension and CKD in Dahl Salt-Sensitive (SS) rats, a genetic model of hypertension and CKD. Male Dahl SS rats (10 to 13-weeks-old, n=15) were instrumented with a radiotelemeter (DSI) to assess arterial blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). One week later, baseline BP (500 Hz, 24 hrs/day over 2 days) and proteinuria were assessed. Then, one group of rats was maintained on regular tap water (vehicle, n=5) or administered PFOA (10 mg/kg/day, n=10) for 4 weeks. BP was assessed weekly, proteinuria at 2 and 4 weeks, and organs were harvested at the end of the experiment. A two-way repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey post hoc analysis was used to assess differences between groups over time, and an unpaired t-test was used to assess differences in organ weights between groups. Data are mean±SE and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Despite similar body weights, both kidney (13%) and liver (52%) weights were significantly greater in PFOA vs. vehicle groups. The percent increase in mean arterial BP (mmHg) over time was significantly attenuated in rats administered PFOA (3.3±1) vs. vehicle (9±2). There were no significant differences in HR or proteinuria between groups. Contrary to our hypothesis, PFOA administration for 4 weeks blunted the age-related increase in BP in Dahl SS rats. Current experiments in the lab are evaluating kidney and liver injury.