Metabolomic study of the effects of perfluorinated compounds on the fatty acid metabolism during the development of Gallus gallus domesticus

Abstract: Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are two commonly found contaminants associated with various manufacturing products, such as firefighting foam, non-stick coatings, electronics and water repellants. These compounds are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic and may therefore pose a serious health risk to living organisms. Earlier studies have shown that PFOS and PFOA affected the fatty acid β-oxidation, i.e. the energy metabolism in liver. This study evaluates the effects of PFOS and PFOA on fatty acid metabolism in domestic chicken liver cells.  Liver tissues were obtained from chicken embryos treated in ovo with PFOS or with PFOA at low (0.1 µg/g) and high (1.0 and 1.6 µg/g) concentration levels. The fatty acids were extracted and derivatized into fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs). The analysis was conducted by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Results showed that a lower concentration of PFOS and a lower percentage of DMSO significantly affected the concentrations of fatty acids in livers of chicken embryos. PFOA-treated samples also showed some significant elevated fatty acid concentrations. Almost all fatty acid concentrations of treated liver samples exceeded the concentrations of the untreated samples.