Chronic exposure to perfluorohexane sulfonate leads to a reproduction deficit by suppressing hypothalamic kisspeptin expression in mice.

Yin X, Di T, Cao X, Liu Z, Xie J, Zhang S

Journal of ovarian research27 Oct 2021Cited by 15 (Europe PMC)

PMID34706750PMCIDPMC8555149DOI10.1186/s13048-021-00903-zPepBankPUB-34706750

Summary

BackgroundPerfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) is a six-carbon perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid found as an environmental contaminant. This study aims to investigate the effects of PFHxS exposure on female reproduction and the underlying mechanism in mice.MethodsEight-week-old ICR mice were divided randomly into four groups administered corn oil (vehicle) and PFHxS at doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/day for 42 days by intragastric administration. Body weight, ovarian weight, estrous cycle, follicle counts, and serum sex hormone levels were evaluated. The expression of kisspeptin and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) in the hypothalamus was also detected.ResultsCompared to vehicle exposure, 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS treatment prolonged the estrous cycle, especially the duration of diestrus, after 42 days of treatment. The numbers of secondary follicles, antral follicles and corpus lutea were significantly reduced in the PFHxS-treated mice. Moreover, compared with the control mice, the PFHxS-treated mice showed decreases in the serum levels of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and estrogen (E2), and reduced GnRH mRNA levels, along with the lack of an LH surge. Furthermore, the PFHxS-treated mice had lower levels of kisspeptin immunoreactivity and kiss-1 mRNA in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) than the control mice. After intraventricular administration of kisspeptin-10, the numbers of secondary follicles, antral follicles and corpus lutea recovered, along with the levels of GnRH mRNA, FSH, and LH in the mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS.ConclusionThese results indicate that chronic exposure of mice to 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS affects reproductive functions by inhibiting kisspeptin expression in the ARC and AVPV regions, leading to deficits in follicular development and ovulation.

CC BYText from Europe PMC. Highlighted sentences are the source of results.

Results from this study6

4 results from studies that gave the peptide. No result from this study comes from people.

01AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS, intraventricular kisspeptin‑10 restored the numbers of secondary follicles, antral follicles and corpora lutea.
In plain wordsIn mice with PFHxS-induced fertility problems, kisspeptin‑10 given into the brain restored follicle and corpus luteum numbers.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-10
Outcome
IncreaseFollicle and corpus luteum numbers after kisspeptin-10 in PFHxS-treated mice
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Female ICR mice exposed to PFHxS (5 mg/kg/day for 42 days)
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Reproductive and sexual health
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intraventricularAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
After intraventricular administration of kisspeptin-10, the numbers of secondary follicles, antral follicles and corpus lutea recovered, along with the levels of GnRH mRNA, FSH, and LH in the mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eight-week-old ICR mice were divided randomly into four groups administered corn oil (vehicle) and PFHxS at doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/day for 42 days by intragastric administration.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3470675001
02AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS, intraventricular kisspeptin‑10 restored hypothalamic GnRH mRNA levels.
In plain wordsIn mice with PFHxS-induced fertility problems, kisspeptin‑10 given into the brain restored GnRH mRNA levels.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-10
Outcome
IncreaseGnRH mRNA after kisspeptin-10 in PFHxS-treated mice
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Female ICR mice exposed to PFHxS (5 mg/kg/day for 42 days)
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intraventricularAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
After intraventricular administration of kisspeptin-10, the numbers of secondary follicles, antral follicles and corpus lutea recovered, along with the levels of GnRH mRNA, FSH, and LH in the mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eight-week-old ICR mice were divided randomly into four groups administered corn oil (vehicle) and PFHxS at doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/day for 42 days by intragastric administration.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3470675002
03AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS, intraventricular kisspeptin‑10 restored FSH levels.
In plain wordsIn mice with PFHxS-induced fertility problems, kisspeptin‑10 given into the brain restored FSH levels.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-10
Outcome
IncreaseSerum FSH after kisspeptin-10 in PFHxS-treated mice
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Female ICR mice exposed to PFHxS (5 mg/kg/day for 42 days)
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intraventricularAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
After intraventricular administration of kisspeptin-10, the numbers of secondary follicles, antral follicles and corpus lutea recovered, along with the levels of GnRH mRNA, FSH, and LH in the mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eight-week-old ICR mice were divided randomly into four groups administered corn oil (vehicle) and PFHxS at doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/day for 42 days by intragastric administration.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3470675003
04AnimalAnimal study (in vivo)Efficacy outcome
In mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS, intraventricular kisspeptin‑10 restored LH levels.
In plain wordsIn mice with PFHxS-induced fertility problems, kisspeptin‑10 given into the brain restored LH levels.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-10
Outcome
IncreaseSerum LH after kisspeptin-10 in PFHxS-treated mice
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Female ICR mice exposed to PFHxS (5 mg/kg/day for 42 days)
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Studied dose
Dose not stated · intraventricularAs given in this study (mouse).
Source sentences
Summary
After intraventricular administration of kisspeptin-10, the numbers of secondary follicles, antral follicles and corpus lutea recovered, along with the levels of GnRH mRNA, FSH, and LH in the mice treated with 5 mg/kg/day PFHxS.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eight-week-old ICR mice were divided randomly into four groups administered corn oil (vehicle) and PFHxS at doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/day for 42 days by intragastric administration.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3470675004

Natural levels measured2

These results measure the body's own peptide. Nobody was given the peptide. They are not evidence about taking it. They are left out of key results, evidence counts and charts.

05AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In female mice, PFHxS exposure lowered the body's own kisspeptin immunoreactivity in the arcuate and anteroventral periventricular nuclei compared with controls.
In plain wordsIn mice, PFHxS exposure lowered the body's own kisspeptin in two brain regions compared with controls.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-10
Outcome
DecreaseHypothalamic kisspeptin immunoreactivity after PFHxS
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Female ICR mice exposed to PFHxS (5 mg/kg/day for 42 days)
Comparator
Control mice
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Source sentences
Summary
Furthermore, the PFHxS-treated mice had lower levels of kisspeptin immunoreactivity and kiss-1 mRNA in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) than the control mice.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eight-week-old ICR mice were divided randomly into four groups administered corn oil (vehicle) and PFHxS at doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/day for 42 days by intragastric administration.
This result measures the body's own Kisspeptin-10. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3470675005
06AnimalEndogenous levelAnimal study (in vivo)Mechanism
In female mice, PFHxS exposure lowered kiss-1 mRNA (the gene for the body's own kisspeptin) in the arcuate and anteroventral periventricular nuclei compared with controls.
In plain wordsIn mice, PFHxS exposure lowered the activity of the gene for the body's own kisspeptin in two brain regions compared with controls.
Peptide
Kisspeptin-10
Outcome
DecreaseHypothalamic kiss-1 mRNA after PFHxS
Study
mousen: not reported in source
Female ICR mice exposed to PFHxS (5 mg/kg/day for 42 days)
Comparator
Control mice
Outcome group
Sex hormones and fertility · Endocrine and hormones
Source sentences
Summary
Furthermore, the PFHxS-treated mice had lower levels of kisspeptin immunoreactivity and kiss-1 mRNA in the arcuate nucleus (ARC) and anteroventral periventricular nucleus (AVPV) than the control mice.
1 context sentence(design, population, supporting numbers)
Summary · context
Eight-week-old ICR mice were divided randomly into four groups administered corn oil (vehicle) and PFHxS at doses of 0.5, 5, and 50 mg/kg/day for 42 days by intragastric administration.
This result measures the body's own Kisspeptin-10. Nobody was given the peptide. It is not evidence about taking it.
Show in the study text Report a problemFND-3470675006

AI wrote and checked these results. AI can make mistakes, so check important results against the source.

Version history

PepBank keeps every version of the data on this study. Status changes from Retraction Watch, Europe PMC and Crossref are listed with their source.

Version 2Current
10 Oct 2026, 09:43 UTC
Study results updated
Version 1
9 Oct 2026, 03:04 UTC
First added · source update from Europe PMC

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