Insight into perfluorooctanoic acid-induced impaired mouse embryo implantation via single cell RNA-seq

Abstract

PFOA (perfluorooctanoic acid) is a difficult-to-degrade chemical that poses significant risks to human health and the environment. Studies have shown that PFOA affect female reproduction, but effect and mechanism of low doses PFOA expose on endometrial receptivity are unclear. In this study, we found that exposure to low doses of PFOA damaged endometrial receptivity in mice, resulting in decreased embryo implantation rates in mice. Furthermore, using single-cell sequencing technology, we systematically analyzed the specific mechanisms by which PFOA damages endometrial epithelial cell function and the ANGTL signaling pathway between endometrial stromal cells and epithelial cells, leading to embryo implantation failure. The elucidation of this mechanism provides new targets for the treatment of infertility about exposed to PFOA.