Perfluorododecanoic Acid Blocks Rat Leydig Cell Development during Prepuberty.

Perfluorododecanoic acid (PFDoA) has been used as a surfactant and may have reproductive toxicity. However, whether PFDoA influences Leydig cell development during prepuberty remains unknown. In the present study, 21-day-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were gavaged 0, 5, or 10 mg/kg PFDoA from postnatal day 21 to 35. PFDoA decreased the serum concentrations of testosterone, luteinizing hormone, and follicle-stimulating hormone at doses of 5 and 10 mg/kg without influencing Leydig cell number and proliferation. However, PFDoA down-regulated the expression of Leydig cell genes ( Lhcgr, Scarb1, Star, Cyp11a1, Cyp17a1, and Hsd11b1) or their proteins. PFDoA dose-dependently reduced SIRT1 and PGC-1α levels. PFDoA did not affect AMPK and AKT2 levels but decreased their phosphorylation. We also treated primary progenitor Leydig cells purified from prepubertal rat testes with PFDoA for 24 h. It in vitro lowered viability and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential of progenitor Leydig cells, but it stimulated the generation of the intracellular reactive oxygen species and induced Leydig cell apoptosis at 10 μM. In conclusion, PFDoA blocks rat Leydig cell development during the prepubertal period possibly via targeting AMPK/SIRT1/PGC-1α and AKT2 signaling pathways.