Beneficial effects of some vitamins and calcium on fluoride and aluminium toxicity on gastrocnemius muscle and liver of male mice

Treatment of male mice (Mus musculus) with sodium fluoride (NaF, 10 mg/kg body weight), alone or in combination with aluminium chloride (AlCl sub(3), 200 mg/kg body weight), was investigated for its effects on gastrocnemius muscle and liver. Recovery after one-month withdrawal of treatment and responses to some antidotes, viz calcium, ascorbic acid, and vitamin E administered alone or in combination were also studied. NaF alone or in combination with AlCl sub(3) caused a significant decrease in protein levels and activity of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) in liver and gastrocnemius muscle, thereby indicating altered protein and oxidative metabolisms in these tissues. Cholinesterase activity declined significantly with all the treatments in both tissues, probably affecting the synaptic transmission due to altered acetylcholine release or metabolism and altering muscle contraction. All three treatments caused changes in liver function as shown by a significant increase in serum transminases, accumulation of glycogen and inhibition of phosphorylase activity thereby indicating that carbohydrate metabolism was affected. Similar changes occurred in muscle tissue. Gastrocnemius muscle and liver were therefore affected by sodium fluoride, aluminium chloride and in combination. Recovery was not significant on withdrawal of NaF + AlCl sub(3) treatment. However, all three antidotes brought about significant recovery in the organs studied. Individually, ascorbic acid was the most beneficial in bringing about pronounced recovery. Thus, intoxication induced by sodium fluoride and aluminium chloride is transient and reversible.