Abstract

Objective To study the effect of high level fluoride and low level iodine on learning-memory in offspring rats and possible mechanism.

Methods Thirty-two Wistar rats were randomly divided into four groups each of eight (female:male=(3:1).) The rats were treated with high fluoride (100 and 150 mg NaF/L), low iodine (0.0855 mg/kg), or both high fluoride (100 and 150 mg NaF/L) and low iodine (0.0855 mg/kg) respectively.

Results Compared with control rats,error number (EN1) and (EN2) of the experimental offspring rats increased significantly (P0.05). Sustaining time (ST) reduced obviously (P0.05). EN1 and EN2 of the experimental rats in the group of high fluoride and low iodine were the highest in all groups (P0.05). Acetylcholinesterase (TchE) activity in the group of high fluoride and low iodine decreased significantly at 30,60 and 90 days (P0.01).

Conclusion TchE activity of brain by high fluoride and low iodine may be an important mechanism to affect learning-memory ability.