Abstract
Fluorides, when taken in amounts exceeding the standard therapeutic dosage, are regarded as toxic substances. Recent studies show that fluorides may affect the oxidoreductive processes of cells. The aim of the following study is to investigate the effect of antioxidative vitamins A and E and coenzyme Q on the morphological picture of the lungs and pancreata of rats exposed to high doses of sodium fluoride. The study was performed on 18 female rats, which were divided into 3 groups: a control group and 2 experimental groups. The control group received distilled water and standard fodder. Experimental groups I and II both received sodium fluoride (2.5mg/rat/24h). In addition, animals in group II received vitamin A (250 IU/rat/24h), vitamin E (3mg/rat/24h), and coenzyme Q (200 microg/rat/24h). The experiment was conducted for a period of 35 days. Upon dissection, lungs and pancreata were taken for histopathological examination. Pathomorphological evaluations of the removed organs were performed using paraffin preparations, stained with hematoxylin and eosin. The aldolase activity in the pancreata was measured using colorimetric methods and the protein concentration by the Lowry method. In the case of group I, pathomorphological examinations of the lungs revealed the appearance of erythrorrhagia, hyperaemia, necrosis of epithelium cells, numerous macrophages in interalveolar septa, infiltrations in the area of blood vessels and emphysematous blebs. Focal vacuolar degeneration cells and inflammatory infiltrations appeared only in pancreata. The results confirmed that the administration of vitamins A and E and coenzyme Q has a counteracting influence upon the degenerative changes seen in the examined organs.