Specific Accumulation of Lipid Droplets in Hepatocyte Nuclei of PFOA-exposed BALB/c Mice

Lipid droplets (LDs), which are important storage structures for neutral lipids and organelles of diverse functions, participate in various cellular activities. In this study, BALB/c mice, fed a regular or a high-fat diet, were exposed to the synthetic perfluorinated compound, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). PFOA-exposed mice had altered serum lipid and lipoprotein levels, and hydropic degeneration or ballooning degeneration of hepatocytes. Moreover, we report for the first time that LDs accumulate in hepatic nuclei after PFOA exposure. As PFOA resembles fatty acids (FA) in its structure, this chemical may interfere with the transportation and metabolism of FA as well as LDs in the cell. This abnormal localization of LDs in the nucleus may be related to the cause of PFOA toxicity.