Abstract

The possibility that chronicle oral ingestion of fluoride-rich water could modify peripheral pain sensitivity was studied in two strains of adult rats, Sprague–Dawley and Lou/C rats. Sodium fluoride was given orally in water to male Sprague–Dawley (75 and 150 ppm) and Lou rats (150 ppm) for 15 and 27 weeks, respectively. Using classical behavioural evaluation methods of pain symptoms, only slight tendencies to a thermal hyperalgia and a mechanical allodynia were observed in Sprague–Dawley rats.