Journal of Dental Research, Vol 66, 1509-1511, Copyright © 1987 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
Effects of fluoride on the mouse sperm morphology test
Y. Li, A. J. Dunipace and G. K. Stookey
There has been little information and much confusion regarding the
genotoxic effects of fluoride. The purpose of this study was to examine the
spermatogenic influence of sodium fluoride (NaF) on the germ cells by means
of the mouse sperm morphology test. Male mice of genotype B6C3F1 were
obtained at about eight weeks of age and maintained on a low-fluoride diet
(less than 0.2 ppm F) and distilled water ad libitum throughout the
experiment. At approximately 13 weeks of age, the animals were randomly
assigned to eight groups. Group I was intubated with the Maximum Tolerable
Dosage (MTD) of NaF (70 mg/kg). Groups II through VI received NaF by
stomach intubation at doses of 35, 20, 10, 1, and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively.
Group VII served as a negative control and was intubated with distilled
water. The positive control, Group VIII, was exposed to a known mutagen,
cyclophosphamide (20 mg/kg, i.p.). The animals were treated daily for five
days, and killed by cervical dislocation 35 days after the first exposure
to chemicals. Slides of sperm from the cauda epididymides were prepared and
blindly scored for morphological abnormalities. Weight of the testes was
recorded, and the femurs were saved for fluoride (F) analysis. Analysis of
bone F demonstrated the effective absorption of fluoride following
intubation. The counts of abnormal sperm and the weights of the testes for
mice exposed to NaF doses up to the MTD were not significantly different
from those of the negative control. The results of this study showed that
NaF did not have adverse effects on mouse sperm morphology.
