Perfluoroalkyl acid contamination of follicular fluid and its consequence for in vitro oocyte developmental competence.

Perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) have been shown to induce negative effects in laboratory animals and in vitro experiments. Also, PFAAs have been detected in human tissues and body fluids. The ovarian follicle constitutes a fragile micro-environment where interactions between hormones, growth factors, the oocyte and surrounding somatic cells are essential to generate a fully competent oocyte. In vitro experiments suggest that PFAAs can influence this balance, but very scarce in vivo data are available to confirm this assumption. In fact, the potential PFAA-presence in the follicular micro-environment is currently unknown. Therefore, we investigated if PFAAs are present in human follicular fluid and if their presence could be a risk factor for in vivo exposed developing oocytes. Furthermore, we compared the PFAA-distribution within serum and follicular fluid. PFAAs were analyzed by LC/MS in follicular fluid (n=38) and serum (n=20) samples from women undergoing assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). Statistical models were used to investigate PFAA-distribution in both body fluids, to compare this behavior with the distribution of lipophilic organic pollutants and to explore the relationship between patient characteristics, ART-results and follicular fluid contamination. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was the PFAA found in the highest concentration in follicular fluid [7.5 (0.1-30.4) ng/mL] and serum [7.6 (2.8-12.5) ng/mL]. A new variable, Principal Component 1, representing the overall PFAA-contamination of the follicular fluid samples, was associated with a higher fertilization rate (p<0.05) and a higher proportion of top embryos relative to the amount of retrieved oocytes (p<0.05), after adjusting for age, estradiol-concentration, BMI, male subfertility and the presence of other organic pollutants as explanatory variables. To conclude, overall higher PFAA-contamination in the follicular micro-environment was associated with a higher chance of an oocyte to develop into a high quality embryo. Also, PFAAs have different distribution patterns between serum and follicular fluid compared to the lipophilic organic pollutants. Further research is of course crucial to confirm these new observations.

Petro EML ，D'Hollander W ，Covaci A ，Bervoets L ，Fransen E ，De Neubourg D ，De Pauw I ，Leroy JLMR ，Jorssen EPA ，Bols PEJ ... -  《-》

Endocrine-disrupting chemicals in human follicular fluid impair in vitro oocyte developmental competence.

Petro EM ，Leroy JL ，Covaci A ，Fransen E ，De Neubourg D ，Dirtu AC ，De Pauw I ，Bols PE ... -  《-》

Perfluorinated alkyl acids in the serum and follicular fluid of UK women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome undergoing fertility treatment and associations with hormonal and metabolic parameters.

Women with polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) undergoing treatment for infertility could be a sensitive subpopulation for endocrine effects of exposure to perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs), persistent organic pollutants with potential endocrine activity. Women with, PCOS (n = 30) and age- and BMI-matched controls (n = 29) were recruited from a UK fertility clinic in 2015. Paired serum and follicular fluid samples were collected and analysed for 13 PFAAs. Sex steroid and thyroid hormones, and metabolic markers were measured and assessed for associations with serum PFAAs. Four PFAAs were detected in all serum and follicular fluid samples and concentrations in the two matrices were highly correlated (R2 > 0.95): perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS), and perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA). Serum PFOS was positively associated with age (1 ng/mL per yr, p < 0.05) and was higher in PCOS cases than controls (geometric mean [GM] 3.9 vs. 3.1 ng/mL, p < 0.05) and in women with irregular vs. regular menstrual cycles (GM 3.9 vs. 3.0 ng/mL, p = 0.01). After adjustment for confounders, serum testosterone was significantly associated with PFOA, PFHxS, PFNA, and the molar sum of the four frequently detected serum PFAAs (approximately 50 percent increase per ln-unit) among controls but not PCOS cases. HbA1c in PCOS cases was inversely associated with serum PFOA, PFHxs, and sum of PFAAs (2-3 mmol/mol per ln-unit). In controls, fasting glucose was positively associated with serum PFOA and sum of PFAAs (0.25 nmol/L per ln-unit increase in PFAAs). Few other associations were observed. The analyses and findings here should be considered exploratory in light of the relatively small sample sizes and large number of statistical comparisons conducted. However, the data do not suggest increased sensitivity to potential endocrine effects of PFAAs in PCOS patients.

Heffernan AL ，Cunningham TK ，Drage DS ，Aylward LL ，Thompson K ，Vijayasarathy S ，Mueller JF ，Atkin SL ，Sathyapalan T ... -  《-》

Perfluoroalkyl Acids in Follicular Fluid and Embryo Quality during IVF: A Prospective IVF Cohort in China.

Zeng XW ，Bloom MS ，Wei F ，Liu L ，Qin J ，Xue L ，Wang S ，Huang G ，Teng M ，He B ，Mao X ，Chu C ，Lin S ，Dong GH ，Tan W ... -  《-》

Analysis of PFAAs in American alligators part 1: Concentrations in alligators harvested for consumption during South Carolina public hunts.

Environmental contamination resulting from the production or release of harmful chemicals can lead to negative consequences for wildlife and human health. Perfluorinated alkyl acids (PFAAs) were historically produced as protective coatings for many household items and currently persist in the environment, wildlife, and humans. PFAAs have been linked to immune suppression, endocrine disruption, and developmental toxicity in wildlife and laboratory studies. This study examines the American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, as an important indicator of ecosystem contamination and a potential pathway for PFAA exposure in humans. Alligator meat harvested in the 2015 South Carolina (SC) public hunt season and prepared for human consumption was collected and analyzed for PFAAs to determine meat concentrations and relationships with animal body size (total length), sex, and location of harvest. Of the 15 PFAAs analyzed, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) was found in all alligator meat samples and at the highest concentrations (median 6.73ng/g). No relationship was found between PFAA concentrations and total length or sex. Concentrations of one or all compounds varied significantly across sampling locations, with alligators harvested in the Middle Coastal hunt unit having the highest PFOS concentrations (median 16.0ng/g; p=0.0001). Alligators harvested specifically from Berkley County, SC (located in the Middle Coastal hunt unit) had the highest PFOS concentrations and the greatest number of PFAAs detected (p<0.0001). The site-specific nature of PFAA concentrations in alligator meat observed in this study suggests a source of PFAA contamination in Berkley County, SC.

Tipton JJ ，Guillette LJ Jr ，Lovelace S ，Parrott BB ，Rainwater TR ，Reiner JL ... -  《-》