Abstract

The effect of fluoride on testicular lipid metabolism was assessed in male albino rabbits in experimental fluorosis. Fifty male albino rabbits were administered sodium fluoride (5, 10, 20, and 50 mg/kg body weight/day) subcutaneously for 100 days. The control animals were given 1 cc distilled water/kg body weight over the same period. Compared with controls, the experimental animals especially those given 50 mg NaF/day/kg of body weight, showed abnormal accumulation of lipids in testes. Hyperphospholipidemia, hypertriglyceridemia, and hypercholesterolemia in tesces indicate enhanced lipid biosynthesis in response to fluoride toxicosis. A progressive significant (p < 0.001) increase in amount of free fatry a.cids was observed in testes of fluoridated animals. The increase of concentration of all lipid classes except free falty acids in testes was directly correlated with the increase in dosage of fluoride administered.