Abstract
Fluoride pollution in drinking water is an international problem as the fluoride present is often at levels above acceptable limits. This study was done with an objective to determine the immunotoxic potential of sub acute exposure of sodium fluoride in Wistar rats with special reference to the Dinitroflurobenzene contact skin sensitivity test and pathological alterations in splenic histoarchitecture. The rats were intoxicated orally to sodium fluoride at dose levels of 5, 25 and 50 mg/kg body weight, respectively for 28 days. On day 21 the external surface of right ear pinna of rats were sensitized to 40 µl of 2% Dinitroflurobenzene in vehicle followed by challenge application of 40 µl of 1% Dinitroflurobenzene in vehicle on day 25. The left ear pinna served as control and 40 µl of vehicle (4:1 acetone- olive oil) was applied. The increase in ear thickness (in mm) was measured with Engineers micrometer at 0, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h post challenge. The results revealed a dose dependent decrease (p < 0.001) in mean ear thickness (in mm) of sodium fluoride intoxicated rats following challenge application of 1% Dinitroflurobenzene in vehicle. The blood picture revealed dose dependent leucocytosis associated with neutrophilia and lymphocytopaenia. There was also dose dependent decrease in organosomatic index of spleen and severe depletion of lymphocytes in white pulp of spleen. This report highlights the proposition that prolonged exposure to fluoride contaminated drinking water is likely to result in immunotoxicity. Key words: Fluoride, immunotoxicity, rats, dinitroflurobenzene, spleen.
Highlights
Environmental pollution is a dangerous problem globally and one of the most complex health hazards results from fluorides
The ear lesion turned into a scab between 20 and 24 h post challenge application (Figure 3) accounting for very intense increase in ear thickness
The results of this study are in close agreement with Das et al (2006) who reported that Sodium fluoride (NaF) treatment lowered cellular immunity in the rats
Summary
Environmental pollution is a dangerous problem globally and one of the most complex health hazards results from fluorides. Fluorides are naturally occurring harmful contaminant in the environment (Raghuvansi et al, 2010). It is a cumulative poison and leads to fluorosis; a serious public health problem. Endemic fluorosis is prevalent in many parts of the world where drinking water contains more than 1 to 1.5 ppm of fluoride and causes damage to hard tissues of teeth and skeleton, and to soft tissues, such as brain, liver, kidney, spleen and endocrine glands (WHO, 1984; Santhakumari and Subramanian, 2007; Sharma et al, 2007; Ozsvath, 2009). Studies with sodium fluoride (NaF), indicate that fluoride can damage human lymphocyte chromosomes, induce adverse effects in the spleen (Podder et al, 2010) inhibit growth and general health in rabbits and increase their nonspecific immune-related acid phosphatase and lysozyme activities (Liu et al, 2012)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
