Evaluation of the Expression of Nerve Growth Factor (NGF) in the Rat Brain after Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) Exposure

Abstract

Background: Impairment of the gene expression and nerve growth factors due to exposure to persistent pollutants in nature can lead to functional disorders in the nervous system. In the present study, the effects of exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) on the expression of nerve growth factors in the rat brain were investigated during pregnancy. Methods: The brains of 35 pregnant rats were used. the rats were divided into five groups include: control, sham, 1 mg/kg PFOA group, 5 mg/kg PFOA group, and 10 mg/kg PFOA group. In the group that received PFOA, this compound was gavaged daily. The brains of the newborn mice were removed 20 days after delivery, and the expression of nerve growth factors was analyzed using ELISA and Real-Time PCR methods. Findings: The results showed that NGF gene expression was significantly higher in the PFOA-treated groups, especially in the PFOA/5mg group (P ≤ 0.001). Also, there was a significant increase in NGF protein expression in the 5 mg PFOA dose group (P ≤ 0.01) and the 10 mg PFOA group (P ≤ 0.05) compared to the control and sham groups. Conclusion: The results of this study showed that exposure to PFOA during pregnancy can lead to increased expression of nerve growth factor. This can prevent the occurrence of neurological disorders caused by exposure to toxic agents. © 2024 Isfahan University of Medical Sciences(IUMS). All rights reserved.