Histological study of the effects of sodium fluoride and the protective role of vitamin E on the testis of albino rats.

INTRODUCTION: Sodium fluoride is a prophylactic agent against dental caries commonly used for water fluoridation, treatment of osteoporosis and as a disinfectant. Adverse effects on various organs were reported following exposure to sodium fluoride.
METHODS: forty male Wister albino rats (Rattus norvegicus), were used, their weight ranging from 250 to 350 gm, all animals were acclimatized for one week before the experiment in suitable cages with standard food pellets and fresh water adlibitum. The period lasted for doing the experiment was four weeks. The animals were grouped equally as following: Group I served as control group given normal saline by oral intubation once daily for one month
RESULTS: Analysis of the recorded data of body weight revealed very high significant reduction in the body weights of rats of group II equated to the control group. In group II, we observed a significantly higher Malondialdehyde with a significantly reduced Superoxide dismutase in comparison to the control group. Conspicuous alterations in the testicular histological architecture were observed in NaF recipient group as thickening of tunica albuginea, vacuolar degeneration of spermatogenic cells. A significant rise in the caspase-3 was observed in rats treated with fluoride alone. Concomitant treatment with vitamin E with fluoride showed a considerable improvement in the histological architecture, biochemical tests, and significantly reduced the caspase-3 activity to near normal.
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: Such finding emphasizes the defensive antioxidant influence of vitamin E against oxidative toxicity induced by fluoride which encourages the use of vitamin E supplementation to minimize the harmful effects of fluorosis.