Fluoride Action Network

Abstract

Objective  To establish the rat model of cognitive dysfunction induced by chronic fluorosis and to investigate the underlying mechanism.

Methods  Animal model of chronic fluorosis was established by feeding Wistar rats on distillated water containing different concentrations of sodium fluoride (0, 50, 100, and 150 mg/L) for six months; Y-maze and open field test were used to evaluate the changes in cognitive ethology of rats; the morphological changes of rat hippocampus were observed using H-E staining.

Results  The learning and memory abilities were lower in chronic fluorosis groups, particularly in medium and high fluorosis groups (P <0.05 or P <0.01) than in the normal group. Compared with the normal group, marked morphological changes were observed in the hippocampal cells in high fluorosis group.

Conclusion  The rat model has a strong resemblance in cognitive dysfunction caused by chronic fluorosis to that in population of high fluorosis areas, which is available to serve as an animal model to study the cognitive impairment caused by chronic fluorosis.