Abstract

SUMMARY: Eight-week old male Wistar rats weighing 180 g were given sodium fluoride in drinking water at a concentration of 5 and 25 mg F–/L for 12 weeks. Control animals received tap water containing 0.3 mg F–/L. The activity of glutathione peroxidase and the concentration of malondialdehye (MDA) were determined in kidney, liver, brain, testis, and blood or plasma. In exposed animals the activity of glutathione peroxidase decreased significantly, and the concentration of MDA increased in a dose and exposure-time dependent manner. The results of this study confirm other reports that fluoride induces free radical toxicity in animals.