Chronic Fluoride Exposure Disrupts Calcium-Dependent Neurodevelopmental Signalling and Brain Proteomic Architecture:...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Toxicology
• Biochemistry

Background:

• Long-term fluoride exposure during early development is linked to neurobehavioral deficits, oxidative stress, and molecular brain changes.
• The precise mechanisms of fluoride neurotoxicity and the protective potential of flavonoids like naringin are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the neurodevelopmental toxicity of fluoride exposure.
• To evaluate the multi-target neuroprotective efficacy of naringin against fluoride-induced neurodevelopmental harms in a rat model.

Main Methods:

• Rats were exposed to sodium fluoride with or without naringin during development.
• Assessments included behavioral tests, biochemical analyses, oxidative stress markers, proteomic profiling (LC-MS/MS), and gene expression analysis (PCR).

Main Results:

• Fluoride exposure caused sensorimotor impairments, behavioral deficits, increased oxidative stress, and altered gene expression.
• Proteomic analysis revealed dysregulation in mitochondrial function, calcium signaling, and synaptic plasticity pathways.
• Naringin co-treatment significantly ameliorated behavioral deficits, restored antioxidant balance, and mitigated molecular pathway disruptions.

Conclusions:

• Fluoride exposure induces neurodevelopmental toxicity through oxidative imbalance, mitochondrial dysfunction, and altered signaling pathways.
• Naringin exhibits significant multi-target neuroprotective effects against fluoride-induced developmental toxicity.
• Naringin shows promise as a potential therapeutic agent against fluoride neurotoxicity.