Journal article
Multigenerational exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) negatively impacts the reproductive health of male mice
Environmental Research, Vol.301, pp.1-18
2026
PMID: 42019663
Abstract
Widespread exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) poses substantial health risks to humans and animals. PFAS have the propensity to bioaccumulate in organs such as the testes, wherein they have been implicated in adverse effects on sperm production and quality. Here, we sought to understand the multigenerational implications of such effects by chronically subjecting three generations of mice to an environmentally relevant PFAS cocktail and subsequently investigating impacts on reproduction, behavior and offspring development. This strategy confirmed that testicular accumulation of PFAS is correlated with compromised rates of sperm production and alterations to the sperm epigenome but did not compromise the overall fertility or behavioral outcomes in PFAS-exposed males. Notably, the negative effects were more pronounced in F1 offspring compared with subsequent F2 and F3 generations. These data support mounting evidence of adverse associations between PFAS exposure and reproductive capacity, but suggest the risk posed by PFAS is not amplified across three generations.
Details
- Title
- Multigenerational exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) negatively impacts the reproductive health of male mice
- Authors
- Leah Gillespie - Hunter Medical Research InstituteJacinta H. Martin (Corresponding Author) - Hunter Medical Research InstituteAmanda L. Anderson - University of Newcastle AustraliaNatalie A. Trigg - University of Newcastle AustraliaJohn E. Schjenken - Hunter Medical Research InstituteShannon P. Smyth - University of Newcastle AustraliaIlana R. Bernstein - University of Newcastle AustraliaSimone J. Stanger - University of Newcastle AustraliaLogan McElhone - Hunter Medical Research InstituteColin C. Conine - Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaFay Waldrip - Hunter Medical Research InstituteErin J. Campbell - Hunter Medical Research InstituteChristopher V. Dayas - Hunter Medical Research InstituteEwan N.A. Simpson - University of Newcastle AustraliaAnne-Louise Gannon - University of Newcastle AustraliaGeoffry N. De Iuliis - Hunter Medical Research InstituteAndrew L. Eamens - University of the Sunshine CoastMatthew D. Dun - University of Newcastle AustraliaBrett D. Turner - University of Technology SydneyShaun D. Roman - NSW Health Pathology (Australia)Mark P. Green - The University of MelbourneBrett Nixon - University of Newcastle Australia
- Publication details
- Environmental Research, Vol.301, pp.1-18
- Publisher
- Academic Press
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.envres.2026.124528
- ISSN
- 1096-0953
- PMID
- 42019663
- Copyright note
- © 2026 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
- Data Availability
- Access number has been provided in STAR methods section.
- Grants
- Organisation Unit
- School of Health - Biomedicine
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991226930502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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