Perfluorooctane sulfonate influences feeding behavior and gut motility via the hypothalamus

Perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) have been employed as surface treatment agents in a variety of products. Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are the two most commonly found PFCs in the environment and human blood. We investigated the effects of PFOS and PFOA on feeding behavior. PFOS or PFOA was administered intracerebroventricularly in mice or rats. Following administration, food intake, gastroduodenal motility, gastric emptying, gene expression of hypothalamic neuropeptides, and c-Fos expression along with immunoreaction for urocortin 2 in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) were determined. Centrally administered PFOS and PFOA decreased food intake. Administration of PFOS decreased gastric emptying and disrupted the fasted motor activity in the antrum and duodenum. The gene expression of urocortin 2 in the hypothalamus and c-Fos expression and immunoreaction for urocortin 2 in the PVN were increased by the action of PFOS. A centrally administered corticotropin-releasing factor type 2 receptor (CRFR2) antagonist blocked PFOS-induced anorexia. These findings indicate that PFOS and PFOA influence feeding behavior. This effect is mediated via the activation of hypothalamic urocortin 2 and CRFR2, and the suppression of gastroduodenal motor activity. These observations indicate that PFCs may act centrally to influence behavior and physiological functions in humans.