The effect of fluoride on the electrophoretic patterns of developing rat molar enamel

Rat pups were given 4 micrograms F/g X day from 3-7 days of age by intraperitoneal injection of NaF. Demineralized enamel matrix from 8- to 15-day-old rats was subjected to SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The results showed that there was a decrease in the relative proportion of high molecular-weight proteins with maturation. Enamel formed in the presence of F showed more abundant low molecular-weight proteins in the secretory stage and a delay in the decrease of high molecular-weight proteins with maturation. These observations indicate that F may influence the assembly or dis-assembly of early enamel proteins.