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