Journal of Dental Research, Vol 70, 957-960, Copyright © 1991 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals
A histomorphometric analysis of the effects of fluoride on experimental ectopic bone formation in the rat
H. Mohr and J. Kragstrup
Department of Oral Anatomy, Dental Pathology, and Operative Dentistry, Royal Dental College, Aarhus, Denmark.
Ectopic bone formation was induced in 14 rats receiving 100 ppm fluoride in
drinking water and in 14 control animals. Sections from ossicles removed
after 14 and 20 days were sampled for stereological analysis. Bone volume
density and bone volume were reduced in experimental animals on day 14 (p
less than 0.05). This difference was no longer present after 20 days. On
day 20, surface density and areas of formative surfaces were increased in
the fluoride group (p less than 0.05). Osteoid seam thickness was higher in
the fluoride group on both days (p less than 0.01). In conclusion, fluoride
induced quantitative alterations in ectopic bone formation, and the
presented model may prove a useful addendum to previous methods for
investigation of fluoride effects on mineralization processes in vivo.
