Effect of the chronic ingestion of fluoride on the antioxidant system of rat.

• Grant number: 07/06728-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: April 01, 2008
• End date: December 31, 2009
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Dentistry - Social and Preventive Dentistry
• Principal Investigator: Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf
• Grantee: Peddi Reddy Nagi Reddy
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Odontologia de Bauru (FOB). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Bauru , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Fluoride (F) is certainly a therapeutical agent against dental caries and is also related to the dynamics of bone formation. Although it has a therapeutical effect, it can cause undesirable reactions when consumed inappropriately (both chronically and acutely). Some studies an association between chronic toxicity of F and increased oxidative stress both in humans and animals. However, there is a lack of information regarding the molecular mechanisms modified or affected by F. Thus, the general objective of this study is to comparatively evaluate the effect of F administered in drinking water on the antioxidant system of rats. Four groups of Wistar rats will be enrolled (n=40), which will receive drinking water containing 5, 15 or 50 ppm of F or deionized water (control) during the whole experiment (60 days). After the experimental period, the animals will be euthanized and some tissues and fluids will be collected for analysis. Fluoride will be analyzed in serum, liver, kidney and heart. Molecules involved in the oxidative/anti-oxidant balance of the organism, such as Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Glutathione Peroxidase (GSH-Px), Glutathione (GSH), Thiobarbituric Acid Reactive Substances (TBARS), Protein Determination, Substances Antioxidant Total (SAT) and Lipid hydroperoxide (HP) will be dosed in serum, liver, kidney and heart. Also Vitamin E, Vitamin C and alkaline phosphatases will be determined in serum. In addition, the transcripts for SOD, CAT, GRH, GSH, amelogenin and MMP20 present in the ameloblasts submitted to laser microdissection will be quantified, using real time RT-PCR. The data will be submitted to the appropriate statistical tests (p<0.05).