Evaluation of subchronic sodium fluoride toxicity on the histopathological effects in tissues of rats and the effects on acetylcholine esterase, superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities.

Fluorine is one of the most important elements for bone and tooth metabolism and must be taken from outside. Systemic or topical fluoride applications in preventive dentistry are among the non-invasive caries prevention methods. However, there is a widespread perception that fluoride intake has detrimental effects regardless of dose taken. This study aims to provide an explanatory model of the effect of high dose systemic fluoride intake on organs and its relationship with oxidative stress. In this study, four groups were formed as three male and three female Wistar albino young adult rats in each group and all groups except control group were given sodium fluoride (NaF) at different concentrations (50, 100, 200 ppm) over drinking water for three months. At the end of three months, blood, liver, pituitary gland, thyroid gland and brain tissue biopsies were taken and histological examination was performed. Oxidative stress parameters such as SOD, CAT and AChE enzyme activities were evaluated. In the obtained results; a "dose-dependent increasing" pattern was observed in all tissues, histopathologically. Systemic uptake of fluoride at high doses caused negative changes in oxidative stress parameters. This supports our histopathological findings, but no statistical significance was found (p0,05). As a result, long-term high doses of fluoride intake cause deterioration in oxidative stress system and soft tissue damage.