Fluoride Action Network

Abstract

Treatment of adult male mice with sodium fluoride (NaF, 10 mg/kg bw/day) and aluminium chloride (AlCl3, 200 mg/kg bw/day) simultaneously for 30 days caused marked histological changes in the epididymis accompanied by decreased levels of protein and sialic acid and also lowered activities of adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) and succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in caput and cauda epididymides with evident alteration of sperm maturation in mice. Withdrawal of NaF+AlCl3 for 30 days led to significant recovery in all parameters except ATPase. Simultaneous treatment with NaF+AlCl3+vitamin C, however, resulted in significant recovery in both regions of the epididymides. These results indicate that the toxic effects are similar in the two regions, but among the parameters studied, ATPase seems to be the most sensitive and would likely affect sperm metabolism and motility.