Abstract
To assess renal damage in experimental fluorosis, female Wistar mice were given 500 ppm NaF (226 ppm F–) in drinking water from the 15th day of pregnancy until the 14th day after delivery. All mice were sacrificed on day 14 after parturition. No significant changes were found in relative kidney weights of fluoride-treated mice and their pups. Urinary fluoride excretion was three times higher in mothers treated with NaF, whereas the rate of fluoride excretion increased by only 3% in their pups. Fluoride administration strongly affected urinary and plasma parameters in 14-day-old mice and their mothers. Daily urine volume in treated groups was higher in the adult mice and their pups than in the controls. Creatinine, a specific indicator of glomerular function, showed significantly higher plasma and lower urinary levels in the treated groups than in the controls. Lipid peroxidation increased in the treated mice, as revealed by high kidney malondialdehyde levels, while plasma and urinary uric acid levels showed a significant decline. There was also a significant increase in urinary zinc and copper levels in both mothers and pups, whereas the plasma levels decreased.