Behavioral effects in adult mice exposed to perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS)

Abstract

Nowadays, very little information concerning the effects on behavior in mammals of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), a widely distributed persistent environmental pollutant, is available. In the present study, we assessed the behavioral effects of PFOS on 3 months old mice after 1 month of exposure to this pollutant. Thirty adult mice were divided into three groups. Animals were given by gavage 0, 3, and 6 mg PFOS/kg /day for four consecutive weeks. After the treatment period, mice were evaluated for several skills by testing motor and sensory function by means of a functional observation battery (FOB), general activity and exploratory behavior in an open-field, and learning and memory in a water maze task. One week after behavioral testing, serum was collected for corticosterone analyses. No adverse effects were observed in the FOB. In general terms, activity in the open-field was similar in all groups being the only observed differences limited to the group given PFOS at 3 mg/kg /day (spent less time in the center) and the group exposed to 6 mg PFOS/kg /day) (reduced rate of vertical activity). Concerning the effects of PFOS in the water maze, although all animals learned the task, no effect of the dose was observed during the acquisition. In the retention test, a deleterious effect of PFOS was noted. These results indicate that PFOS exposure induced only slight behavioral effects in adult male mice.