Chronic Exposure to an Environmentally Relevant Mixture of Endocrine Disruptors Alters Nuclear Phenotype and Induces Renal Fibrosis in Rats

Abstract

The exposome is considered an assessment of environmental exposure and associated biological responses over an individual's lifetime. Endocrine disruptors chemicals (EDCs), an important component of such exposures, exert adverse effects on human health. The kidneys are targets for EDCs because of their characteristic of bioaccumulation. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate cellular and tissue changes in the kidneys of rats exposed to an EDCs mixture (EDCs Mix). Pregnant female Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into: Control group, administered vehicle (corn oil) via gavage; EDCs mix group, administered 32.11 mg/kg/day of a mixture of 12 EDCs diluted in corn oil (2 mL/kg) via gavage. Pregnant or lactating rats received the treatment from Gestational Day 7 until Postnatal Day (DPN) 21. The male pups continued to receive the complete EDCs mix until DPN220, when they were euthanized. Nuclear alterations depended on the compartment evaluated, with the EDCs mix favoring the presence of elliptical nuclei in the cortical and glomerular regions and more rounded nuclei in the medullary region. The EDCs mix increased renal fibrosis in all compartments without altering antioxidant enzymes activity. Therefore, we conclude that environmentally relevant exposure to an EDCs mix causes nuclear changes and induces renal fibrosis.