3.1 Maternal iAs exposure causes sex-specific changes in wean
weights, adult weight gain, and final body weight ratios in of F1
offspring
To understand the effects of in utero iAs exposure on the
developing embryo and primordial germ cells, we exposed F0 females to
iAs treated water for 2 weeks prior to mating (Figure 1) . To
ensure intergenerational effects were passed through the maternal line,
unexposed male mice were placed in female cages to generate the F1
population. Male mice were separated from females after 48 hours to
avoid confounding paternal exposure. Treated water was removed within 24
hours after the F1 offspring were born. F1 mice were weaned at 3 weeks
of age and weekly weights were recorded until 40 weeks of age. F1 female
mice (n=4 per treatment, 8 weeks of age) were bred with unexposed,
unrelated C57BL/6J male mice (8 weeks of age) to produce the F2
generation. F2 mice were weaned at 3 weeks of age. None of the F1 or F2
mice were directly exposed to iAs drinking water during their lifetime.
Male and female F1 mice born to mothers exposed to 10 ppb and 2300 ppb
had lower wean weights compared to control (Figure 2.A ). Over a
period of 40 weeks, male F1 offspring from 10 ppb and 2300 ppb dams had
lower final body weight compared to the control average (Figure
2.C ). Despite low final body weight, F1 male mice had no significant
difference in body weight to fat pad mass ratio (Figure 3.B ).
In contrast to F1 males, the F1 females showed no significant
differences in weight gain over the 40 weeks or in body weight ot fat
pad mass ratio (Figure 2.B, Figure 3.A ). Thus, maternal
exposure to iAs at three ranges alters wean weight and final body weight
in a sex-specific manner.