Maternal organophosphate flame-retardant exposure alters offspring energy and glucose homeostasis in a sexually dimorphic manner in mice

In this study, pregnant dams were exposed to different types of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) at a sensitive development period (from gestation to lactation). The offspring were fed either a high or a low-fat diet for 17 weeks and then underwent a battery of metabolic assessments. OPFR exposure did not alter the weight of the offspring but there were sex dependent changes in metabolic rate, glucose clearance, insulin tolerance, haemodynamics and liver gene expression, potentially via interactions involving steroid and nuclear receptor expression.