Fluoride Induced Neurobehavioral Impairments in Experimental Animals: a Brief Review

Fluoride is one of the major toxicants in the environment and is often found in drinking water at higher concentrations. Living organisms including humans exposed to high fluoride levels are found to develop mild-to-severe detrimental pathological conditions called fluorosis. Fluoride can cross the hematoencephalic barrier and settle in various brain regions. This accumulation affects the structure and function of both the central and peripheral nervous systems. The neural ultrastructure damages are reflected in metabolic and cognitive activities. Hindrances in synaptic plasticity and signal transmission, early neuronal apoptosis, functional alterations of the intercellular signaling pathway components, improper protein synthesis, dyshomeostasis of the transcriptional and neurotrophic factors, oxidative stress, and inflammatory responses are accounted for the fluoride neurotoxicity. Fluoride causes a decline in brain functions that directly influence the overall quality of life in both humans and animals. Animal studies are widely used to explore the etiology of fluoride-induced neurotoxicity. A good number of these studies support a positive correlation between fluoride intake and toxicity phenotypes closely associated with neurotoxicity. However, the experimental dosages highly surpass the normal environmental concentrations and are difficult to compare with human exposures. The treatment procedures are highly dependent on the dosage, duration of exposure, sex, and age of specimens among other factors which make it difficult to arrive at general conclusions. Our review aims to explore fluoride-induced neuronal damage along with associated histopathological, behavioral, and cognitive effects in experimental models. Furthermore, the correlation of various molecular mechanisms upon fluoride intoxication and associated neurobehavioral deficits has been discussed. Since there is no well-established mechanism to prevent fluorosis, phytochemical-based alleviation of its characteristic indications has been proposed as a possible remedial measure.