Concurrent exposure to perfluorooctane sulfonate and restraint stress during pregnancy in mice: Effects on postnatal development and behavior of the offspring

The combined effects of maternal restraint stress and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) on postnatal development and behavior of the offspring were assessed in mice. Thirty-four plug positive females were randomly divided into two groups. Animals were given by gavage 0 and 6 mg PFOS/kg/day on gestation days 12-18. One-half of the animals in each group was subjected to restraint stress (30 min per session, three sessions per day) during the same period. Neither restraint nor PFOS exposure significantly modified maternal food or water consumption. Pups of dams exposed to 6 mg/kg of PFOS showed a reduced body weight on postnatal days 4 and 8. Moreover, PFOS exposure induced some delay in developmental landmarks and neuromotor maturation. Maternal restraint stress reduced activity in an open-field when combined with 6 mg PFOS/kg/day. In addition, in males prenatal restraint stress impaired motor coordination in a rotarod. The current results indicate that concurrent exposure to PFOS and restraint stress during pregnancy induces opposite effects on developmental parameters in the pups. These effects consist in a general delayed maturation trend induced by PFOS exposure, and a general accelerated maturation pattern induced by prenatal stress. Interactive effects between PFOS and maternal stress were observed in young adult mice. These effects consisted mainly in a diminished activity in an open-field test.