Abstract

The liver, heart, lungs, and stomach of rats exposed to hydrogen fluoride were studied. Histological examination showed partial liver necrosis and emphysema. Using histochemical methods the effect of fluorine ions was found in: a reduction of the activity of succinic and beta-hydroxybutyric dehydrogenases in the liver, heart muscle, superficial and glandular epithelium cells, and in lamina propria of the gastric mucosa; an increase in the activity of lactate dehydrogenase in liver cells; an increase in the activity of acid phosphatase in the liver, heart muscle, bronchus epithelium, bronchioli, and interalveolar septum cells; an increase in the activity of alkaline phosphatase in the liver, lungs, and heart muscle connective tissue, and in all gastric epithelium cells. The results obtained mainly point to the inhibition of oxidative metabolism by fluoride ions.