<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To explore the
DNA damage effects and
apoptosis in
brain cells of
rats induced by
sodium fluoride.</p><p><b>
METHODS</b>SD
rats were divided into two groups, i.e.
control group and
fluoride treated group, which were injected intraperitoneally with
distilled water and
sodium fluoride (20 mg.kg(-1).d(-1)) respectively. On the
hand, 5 mmol/L NaF were used in
in vitro study. Single
Cell Gel Electrophosis (SCGE or
Comet Assay) was utilized to measured
DNA damage and
apoptosis was detected by the
TUNEL method and
Flow Cytometry (FCM).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The
DNA damage in pallium
neurons in
rats of the
fluoride group was much more serious compared with those of the
control group, with the Ridit value being 0.351 and 0.639 respectively (P < 0.01) in vivo, and 0.384 4 and 0.650 1 respectively (P < 0.01)
in vitro.
TUNEL positive
cells were found in pallium,
hippocampus and cerebellar granule
cells in
rats of
fluoride group, whereas those in the
control group were rare. It was demonstrated by FCM results that the percentages of apoptotic
cells both in pallium and
hippocampus were significantly higher (P < 0.01) in
rats of
fluoride group (27.12 +/- 3.08, 34.97 +/- 5.46) than those in
control group (4.63 +/- 0.98, 5.35 +/- 0.79), (P < 0.01).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>
Sodium fluoride could induce
DNA damage and
apoptosis in
rats brain.</p>