[The effect of sodium fluoride on selected biochemical markers of bone turnover in ovariectomized rats]

The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of fluoride on selected biochemical markers of bone remodelling in young growing rats and after ovariectomy performed on 12-weeks-old female Wistar rats. Seventy 6-weeks-old female Wistar rats were randomized into seven groups. The first baseline control group was sacrificed before the beginning of the experiment. Two groups served as controls receiving distilled water and the other groups received fluoridated water at different doses (two received 8 and two received 60 mgF-/l). 30 rats (ten from each group) were sacrificed after 6 weeks. Serum was then collected for measurement of fluoride concentration, serum total alkaline phosphatase activity (ALP) and concentration of telopeptide of rat type I collagen (ICTP). Last three groups (ten rats each) were ovariectomized and received than only distilled water to drink. After following six weeks all rats were sacrificed. After six weeks of experiment the group receiving 8 mg F-/l showed the lowest ICTP values and the smallest decrease of serum ALP activity compared to the baseline control group. The rats with higher plasma fluoride concentrations after ovariectomy demonstrated lower ICTP concentrations and higher ALP activity than animals with lower fluoride concentrations.