Sodium Fluoride and Fluoride Contaminated Ground Water Induced Altered Reproductive Performances in Male Rats

Present study was undertaken to investigate the toxic effect of sodium fluoride (NaF)- and fluoride (F)-contaminated ground water on reproductive performances of male rats. Healthy adult male rats were categorised into three groups, first group of rats were served as control, whereas second group of rats were orally intubated with NaF (10 mg/kgbw/1 ml/rat) and third group of rats were allowed to drink F-contaminated ground water (5 mg/L) through drinking water bottles for 52 days. Exposure of NaF- and F-contaminated ground water caused significant decline in sperm motility, serum concentration of testosterone, and increase in sperm abnormality compared with controls. Further, significant histological alterations characterized with shrunken seminiferous tubules and degeneration of different stages of spermatogonial cells were observed in rats treated with NaF- and F-contaminated ground water. After the confirmation of toxic effect of F, these NaF- and F-contaminated ground water-treated male rats were allowed to mate with proven fertile untreated female rats to study the reproductive performances of male rats. There was a decline in parturition index, fertility index of male and female, gestation index and number of pups delivered in NaF-treated male rats compared with controls. However, gestation index and number of pups delivered were declined in F-contaminated ground water-treated male rats compared with controls. These results clearly indicate that F exposure affected the reproductive performances of male rats. The present study further revealed the fact that F-induced decline in testosterone levels, reduced sperm motility, and loss of spermatogonial cells affected the reproductive performances of male rats.