RESVERATROL ATTENUATED THE INCREASED LEVEL OF OXIDATIVE STRESS IN THE BRAINS AND THE DEFICIT OF LEARNING AND MEMORY OF RATS WITH CHRONIC FLUOROSIS

The protective effect of resveratrol (RSV), a stimulator of the silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog (SIRT1), on the neurotoxicity of rat brain induced by chronic fluorosis was investigated. Thirty-two Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats were divided randomly into four groups: (i) a control group; (ii) a RSV treatment group; (iii) a fluoride-exposed group (50 ppm F- in drinking water); and (iv) a fluoride plus RSV group. The experimental period was 7 months. The protein levels of SIRT1 in the cortex and the hippocampus of the rat brains were determined by Western blotting, the SOD activity and the MDA content in the brains by biochemical methods, and the 8-OHdG content by ELISA. The spatial learning ability and the memory of the rats was examined by the Morris Water Maze test. The results showed chronic fluorosis caused changes to the brains of the rats with a reduced SIRT1 protein, elevated MDA and 8-OHdG contents, inhibited SOD activity, and, in addition, decreased learning and memory. Interestingly, RSV pretreatment attenuated the reduced SIRT1, the raised level of oxidative stress, and the lowered ability for learning and memory resulting from the chronic fluorosis. The results indicate that RSV may have a neuroprotective effect on fluoride toxicity.