Abstract
Objective: Explore the brain mechanism of the effect of fluorosis on learning and memory behavior. Method: A method combining behavioral observation and biochemical testing was used to study the effects of long-term drinking different concentrations of sodium fluoride on mouse learning and memory behavior and changes in content of brain superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA). Results: Comparison with the control group: (1) there was a significant decrease (P<0.01) in the number of movements within 3 minutes for the high-fluoride group of mice, and there was trend of uniform change in some other open field behavioral indices of the middle- and high-fluoride groups; (2) there was significant (P<0.05) harm to the learning capabilities of the middle- and high-fluoride groups of mice, but there was no significant change in their memory; (3) the brain SOD activity of the middle-fluoride group of mice was less than that of the control group (P<0.01), while there was no significant effect on the brain MDA content of the high-fluoride group of mice. Conclusion: Fluorosis of mice caused significant harm to some open field behavior and learning capabilities of mice, there was a certain effect on brain SOD activity, and this effect may have a certain relation to the fluoride concentration.
(Translated by Alta Language Services in February 2014, courtesy of Fluoride Action Network)