| repro/dev_105 days |
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 pups were then collected and distributed into five groups of 20 animals each, divided on 2 replicates, as following: Group (1) control, n=20: weanling pups were derived from control dams receiving no Na-F. These pups served as a control group, where Na-F-free water was administered throughout the study till completing all assessments of learning and memory behaviours at 105 days of age. Group (2) low-discontinued (LD), n=20: weanling pups 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, only till weaning at 30 days of age. Group (3) low-continued (LC), n=20: weanling pups were derived from dams receiving low dose of Na-F. Pups were then continually exposed to ad libitum supply of low dose of Na-F in drinking water till completing all assessments of learning and memory behaviours at 105 days of age. Group (4) high-discontinued (HD), n=20: weanling pups were derived from dams receiving high dose of Na-F. Pups were then exposed to ad libitum supply of high dose of Na-F in drinking water, only till weaning at 30 days of age. Group (5) high-continued (HC), n=20: weanling pups were derived from mothers receiving high dose of Na-F. Pups were then continually exposed to ad libitum supply of high dose of Na-F in drinking water till completing all assessments of learning and memory behaviours at 105 days of age.; Forty five mature Wistar female rats weighing about 200-220g were obtained from the Unit for Laboratory Animals at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University and used in our study. They were housed in polypropylene cages with stainless steel wire lids (bedded with wood shavings) and maintained on a standard laboratory feed diet throughout the course of the study. Animals had free access to feed and water and housed at a room temperature of 20-22°c, 60% humidity on a 12h light:dark cycle. All females were mated with males of the same strain. Animal care was in compliance with applicable guidelines from Cairo University Policy on Animal Care and Use. |
| repro/dev study_30 days |
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 pups were then collected and distributed into five groups of 20 animals each, divided on 2 replicates, as following: Group (1) control, n=20: weanling pups were derived from control dams receiving no Na-F. These pups served as a control group, where Na-F-free water was administered throughout the study till completing all assessments of learning and memory behaviours at 105 days of age. Group (2) low-discontinued (LD), n=20: weanling pups 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, only till weaning at 30 days of age. Group (3) low-continued (LC), n=20: weanling pups were derived from dams receiving low dose of Na-F. Pups were then continually exposed to ad libitum supply of low dose of Na-F in drinking water till completing all assessments of learning and memory behaviours at 105 days of age. Group (4) high-discontinued (HD), n=20: weanling pups were derived from dams receiving high dose of Na-F. Pups were then exposed to ad libitum supply of high dose of Na-F in drinking water, only till weaning at 30 days of age. Group (5) high-continued (HC), n=20: weanling pups were derived from mothers receiving high dose of Na-F. Pups were then continually exposed to ad libitum supply of high dose of Na-F in drinking water till completing all assessments of learning and memory behaviours at 105 days of age.; Forty five mature Wistar female rats weighing about 200-220g were obtained from the Unit for Laboratory Animals at Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Cairo University and used in our study. They were housed in polypropylene cages with stainless steel wire lids (bedded with wood shavings) and maintained on a standard laboratory feed diet throughout the course of the study. Animals had free access to feed and water and housed at a room temperature of 20-22°c, 60% humidity on a 12h light:dark cycle. All females were mated with males of the same strain. Animal care was in compliance with applicable guidelines from Cairo University Policy on Animal Care and Use. |