Biochemical changes in brain and other tissues of young adult female mice from fluoride in their drinking water

One-month old female Swiss albino mice were given 60 ppm and 120 ppm F super(-) (from NaF) in their drinking water for 30 days to study effects of fluoride on neurotransmitter enzymes (AchE, BchE), anti-oxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT), and lipid peroxidation (MDA) in brain (hippocampus), liver, and gastrocnemius muscle. Activities of AchE and BchE showed a concentration-dependent decrease in all the tissues studied, which was highly significant in liver and muscles. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) also showed a significant concentration dependent decrease in all the tissues, which was highly significant for CAT at 120 ppm in liver and muscles. Malondialdehyde (MDA), however, showed a significant concentration dependent increase in gastrocnemius muscle, but in brain and liver it had an initial decrease at 60 ppm F super(-) that changed to a significant increase at 120 ppm. Ascorbic acid exhibited significant concentration-dependent increases in all the tissues examined. Total protein showed a concentration dependent decrease in brain and muscles but an increase in liver. The results of the study indicate that elevated fluoride in drinking water affects not only mammalian neurotransmitter functions but also antioxidant systems.