| NaF female rat |
Subchronic (30-90 days) |
Eight animals were chosen randomly for each test and control group… sodium fluoride (LR, Qualigens fine chemicals, Mumbai, India) was administered with drinking water. In order to determine a dose that could produce toxic effects within a short period, graded doses (400, 500 and 600 ppm) were administered to groups of rats for 60 days. The smallest dose did not produce significant toxic effects. Lethality occurred during treatment in the 600 ppm group. Administration of 500 ppm produced significant toxic effects with no lethality during 60 days treatment. In a previous study also administration of sodium fluoride at 500 ppm with drinking water for 4 weeks produced growth retardation and skeletal fluorosis and not lethality (Harrison et al., 1984). Hence, in the present study drinking water containing 500 ppm of sodium fluoride was supplied to test animals ad libitum for 60 days.; Colony bred adult 4–5-month-old female Wistar rats weighing 130–150 g were used….Since, caging singly may affect the behavior, two rats were housed together for food intake test. Other animals were caged in groups (three or four in a cage). The animals were maintained at room temperature (22–26 deg C) with normal day and night schedule. The animals received a balanced commercially available pelleted rat feed (Gold Mohur, M/s Hindustan Lever Ltd., Mumbai, India) and sodium fluoride mixed tap water ad libitum. The feed contained protein — 21%, lipids — 5%, crude fibre — 4%, ash — 8%, calcium — 1%, phosphorus — 0.6%, nitrogen free extract — 55% and metabolisable energy of 3600 kcal/kg. Drinking water contained fluoride — 0.2 ppm, chloride — 245 ppm, calcium — 40 ppm, magnesium — 48 ppm, sodium — 138 ppm and potassium — 10 ppm. Guidelines for Breeding of and Experiments on Animals, 1998 defined by the Ministry of Social Justice Empowerment, Government of India was followed. |