Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 1687-1690, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Lack of genotoxic effects of fluoride in the mouse bone-marrow micronucleus test
Y. Li, A. J. Dunipace and G. K. Stookey
Indiana University School of Dentistry, Indianapolis 46202, USA.
The purpose of this investigation was to examine the potential genotoxic
influence of sodium fluoride (NaF) on mammalian cells by means of a mouse
bone-marrow micronucleus test. Mice of genotype B6C3F1 were obtained at
about eight weeks of age and maintained on a low-fluoride diet (< 0.2
ppm F) and distilled water ad libitum throughout the experiment. At
approximately 12 weeks of age, the animals were randomly assigned to seven
groups, with multiple sampling schedules. The animals were intubated with
various doses of NaF, ranging from 0.1 mg/kg to the Maximum Tolerable Dose
(MTD), with sampling at 30, 48, and 72 hours after treatment. Negative
(distilled water) and positive (cyclophosphamide) controls were included.
Coded slides of femur marrow cells were prepared and examined, without
identification as to treatments, for the frequency of micronucleated
polychromatic erythrocytes (MN-PCE). The humera were analyzed for fluoride
for monitoring of the absorption of fluoride following oral intubation. The
results indicated that doses of NaF up to the MTD did not significantly
increase the frequencies of MN-PCE when compared with the negative
controls, although the bone fluoride content increased as the dose of NaF
was increased.
