Fluoride Action Network

Abstract

Highlights

  • Spatial learning and memory of offspring rats were impaired after exposure to fluorine combined with aluminium(FA).
  • Hippocampal miR-132 and miR-204 were increased after FA exposure.
  • Hippocampal BDNF-TrkB signaling pathway was down-regulated after FA exposure.
  • There were antagonistic effects between F and Al, with Al reducing the toxicity of F.

Fluorine and aluminium are nervous system poisons, but it remains unclear whether combined fluorine and aluminium exposure damages spatial learning and memory and, if so, by what mechanism. This study showed that exposure to fluorine and aluminium, either alone or combined, during the embryonic stage and into adulthood caused spatial learning and memory impairment in offspring rats; its mechanism may be associated with increases in miR-132 and miR-204 expression and downregulation of the BDNF-TrkB pathway in the hippocampus. The effects of F were obvious, but the effects of Al were slight. There were antagonistic effects between F and Al, with Al reducing the toxicity of F.