| NaF male offspring |
Developmental |
Pregnant females were divided at random into three groups of 15 animals each and received Na-F at one of three different concentrations; 0 (control), 50 and 100 ppm on a mg/kg/day basis of 0, 5.15 and 10.77 Na-F, respectively). Sodium fluoride (Na-F, Sigma Chemical Company) was incorporated in drinking distilled water and administered to pregnant rats for a 44 days period (from day 8 of gestation till termination of lactation and weaning of pups at 30 days of age). After weaning, all male pups were then collected and distributed into three groups of 20 animals each, divided on 2 replicates, each of 10, as following: Group (1) control, n=20: weanling males were derived from control dams receiving no Na-F. These pups served as a control group. Group (2) low-Na-F, n=20: weanling males were derived from dams receiving low dose of Na-F. Pups were then exposed to ad libitum supply of low dose of Na-F in drinking water, till completion of the study. Group (3) high-Na-F, n=20: weanling males were derived from dams receiving high dose of Na-F. Males were then exposed to ad libitum supply of high dose of Na-F in drinking water, till completion of the study.; Rats used in this study were maintained and treated in accordance with ethical guidelines released by Cairo University Policy on Animal Care and Use. Adequate measures were taken to minimize pain, discomfort or stress of the animals. In addition, efforts were made to use only the minimal number of animals necessary to produce reliable scientific data. Forty five mature female Wistar rats (Unit for Laboratory Animals at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University) weighing 200-220g were used. Animals were housed in polypropylene cages with stainless steel wire lids (bedded with wood shavings) and kept at a room temperature of 20-22 deg C, 60% humidity on a light cycle of 12 h/day. They were allowed free access to standard laboratory feed and water. Pairs of females were placed with single male rats of the same strain at night. |