Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) alter sperm methylation, leading to changes in gene expression in the adipose and liver of the offspring of exposed males.
- New work in mice shows that exposure of adult males to PFAS results in “aberrant sperm methylation” and “altered gene expression in offspring liver and fat in a sex-specific manner.”
- “I hope that these results will promote an appreciation of male health on the development of their offspring,” said one of the study authors.
- PFAS are present in many everyday products (cosmetics, clothing, food packaging, etc.), in drinking water and the air.
A new study highlights both the fact that spermatogenesis is a sensitive window of development before conception, and the impact of exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the sperm of exposed men. “PFAS are associated with many chronic diseases and can, for example, impact inflammation and the immune system, explain one of the authors of the research, Professor Michael C. Petriello, assistant professor of environmental health sciences and pharmacology at Wayne State University School of Medicine in the United States. This work focuses on reproductive outcomes, fertility and metabolism of offspring. The idea that the father’s exposure could affect the health of his offspring is entirely new.”
This work, entitled “Mixtures of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) alter sperm methylation and long-term reprogramming of the offspring’s liver and fat transcriptome”, were recently published in Environment International.
“A decline in male fertility worldwide”
“In recent decades, male fertility has declined worldwide, with the greatest declines occurring in countries with high production of endocrine-disrupting chemicals.”, note the authors in the preamble to their publication.
In this study, they used male mice that were fed a high-fat diet to mimic the Western diet, and exposed to a mixture of five PFAS via drinking water. Reproduction was subsequently carried out with unexposed females, in order to examine the impact of paternal exposure on the offspring, which were themselves fed a normal diet.
Exposure to PFAS before conception can be passed to the next generation
The team’s results demonstrate that exposure to PFAS in these adult male mice resulted in “aberrant sperm methylation” [des modifications chimiques qui interviennent pour réguler l’expression des gènes sans modifier la séquence d’ADN, ndlr] and an “altered gene expression of offspring liver and fat in a sex-specific manner”. They say these data indicate that preconception exposure to PFAS in men can be passed down and affect the phenotype of the next generation.
“The burden has always been on maternal health during pregnancy as it relates to offspring healthsaid the study’s lead author, Prof. J. Richard Pilsner, professor of obstetrics and gynecology and associate director of the CS Mott Center for Human Growth and Development. This research shows that environmental health before conception is also a key factor that affects the health and development of offspring.”
“I hope that these results will promote an appreciation of male health on the development of their offspring”, added Professor Pilsner. According to the researcher, doctors should do more to inform male partners that their health before conception has an impact on the future health of their children. “This would be a significant change that would have a positive impact on future generations.”
Further studies are now needed to better understand the effect of PFAS on an individual level and when combined.
Where are PFAS found?
PFAS are chemical substances used in many everyday products for their properties, such as textiles, food packaging, fire-fighting foams, refrigerant gases, non-stick coatings, cosmetics, medical devices and even plant protection products. . Very persistent in the environment, these compounds accumulate in living organisms, in plants and animals, finding themselves in the food chain. They are also present in the water we drink and the air we breathe.
Currently, initiatives at French and European level have been launched to reduce or even ban the use of these eternal pollutants, but the procedures are slow and face an outcry from many industries.