Fluoride Action Network

Abstract

The cardiotoxic effect of various dosage of sodium fluoride was investigated. Three-week-old male Wistar rats were fed on normal fodder and distilled water containing different dosages (0, 25, 50, 100 and 150 mg/litre) of sodium fluoride for 6 months to establish an animal model of chronic fluorosis. Electrocardiogram (ECG) was taken after the experiment for 6 months to observe the effects of fluoride. The morphological changes were observed under transmission electron and light microscopes. There was a shortness of Q-T interval in rats with fluorosis. The morphological changes observed in myocardial tissue under the light microscope were indistinct transverse striation and myolysis or myocardial fibre coagulation. The mitochondria were swollen under transmission electron microscope in rats with fluorosis. It is concluded that fluorosis can cause myocardial cell damage and changes in myocardial structure and ECG in rats.