Date of Award

5-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

College/School

College of Science and Mathematics

Department/Program

Biology

Thesis Sponsor/Dissertation Chair/Project Chair

Alexis Khursigara

Committee Member

Carlos Molina

Committee Member

Scott Kight

Abstract

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are emerging contaminants of concern due to associated adverse health effects and their persistence. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is one of the most common types of this global pollutant and has been shown to impact behavior and the reproductive system. PFOA exposure is associated with changes in aggression, altered brain signaling, abnormal sperm, and testicular and prostate cancer. Zebrafish are commonly used to study toxicity of PFAS. Previous PFOA studies have typically exposed zebrafish through aqueous solutions, however, dietary PFOA is a significant exposure pathway that has been understudied. The purpose of this study is to examine how dietary PFOA exposure impacts adult male reproductive behaviors, and subsequently reproductive success. Male zebrafish were chronically exposed to either 100 ng or 1 μg of dietary PFOA over 4 weeks and assessed for morphometrics, mating behaviors, and egg fertilization at 1, 2, and 4 weeks. Results found PFOA impacted mass, body length and velocity. Males exposed to 100 ng showed the most change and had increased mass, body length, and velocity. Effects on mass, length and velocity were dependent on the dose in a non-monotonous relationship. Effects on behavior occurred at week 2, while length was impacted by week 4. Fertilization of eggs was not impacted. This study shows PFOA is still a threat to the adult life stage and dietary exposure can lead to different results than aqueous exposure.

File Format

PDF

Download

Available for download on Saturday, May 22, 2027

Share

COinS