Fluoride Action Network

Abstract

Objective: To explore the effects of fluoride in learning and memory changes and the antagonism of selenium by way of animal experiments.

Methods: 32 three-week-old SD rats,equal male and female,were randomly divided into four groups.Group1 was fed with deionized water every day;group 2 was given sodium fluoride 20mg/kg by gastric gavage; group 3 was given sodium fluoride 20 mg/kg by gastric gavage while adding sodium selenite (2 mg/L) in drinking water;group 4 was given sodium selenite (2 mg/L) in drinking water.Three months later,learning and memory capability was tested by way of water maze,and 24-hour urine was collected before sacrifice. Furthermore ,fluorine level both in blood and urine, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) level in rat brain tissue were detected.

Results: (1) Comparing with group 1, the fluoride level in blood and urine was significantly increased (P0.05),the level in group 3 was lower than that of group 2 (P0.05). The fluoride level in urine was higher than that of group 2. (2) Comparing with group 1, SOD activity in group 2 in rat brain tissue was decreased (P0.05). SOD activity in group 3 was higher than that of group 2 (P0.05). MDA level in group 2 increased significantly comparing with that of group 1 (P0.05). MDA level in group 3 was lower than that of group 2 (P0.05). (3) The escape latency in group 1 was shorter than that of group 2 (P0.05). The escape latency in group3 was shorter than that of group 2 (P0.05). The escape latency in group 3 was shorter than that of group 1 (P0.05).

Conclusion: Fluoride can damage the learning and memory function, and selenium may antagonism this effects.