The effect of fluoride on the citrate content of the bones of the growing rat

The vertebra, tibia-fibula and mandible of 47 day old rats receiving 0, 10, 50 and 100 p.p.m. F in the drinking water for 25, 55 and 114 days were analysed for fluoride and citrate. The concentration of citrate decreased with age in control rats receiving no supplemental fluoride. The bones of rats receiving 10, 50 and 100 p.p.m. F showed a progressive decrease in citrate concentration related to the fluoride content at each period of sacrifice (25, 55 and 114 days on experiment). The total citrate content increased with age in the three bones examined but less total citrate was deposited as the concentration of fluoride administered was increased. Possible mechanisms to explain the inverse relation between the fluoride and the citrate content of bone are discussed.