title: Vitamin C ameliorates fluoride-induced embryotoxicity in pregnant rats.
abstract: Oral administration of sodium fluoride (40 mg/kg body weight) from day 6 to 19 of gestation caused, as compared to control, significant reductions in body weight, feed consumption, absolute uterine weight and number of implantations. Significantly higher incidence of skeletal (wavy ribs, 14th rib, <6 sternal centre, dumbell-shaped second and fifth sternebrae, incomplete ossification of skull and thickening of tibia) and visceral (subcutaneous haemorrhage) abnormalities were also observed in NaF-treated dams than that of control. Oral administration of vitamin C (50 mg/kg body weight) and vitamin E (2 mg/0.2 ml olive oil/animal/day) from day 6 to 19 of gestation along with NaF significantly ameliorates NaF-induced reductions in body weight, feed consumption, absolute uterine weight (only with vitamin E treatment) and number of implantations. As compared with NaF-treated alone, the total percentage of skeletal and visceral abnormalities were significantly lowered in fluoride plus vitamin C-treated animals. Vitamin E was less effective. These findings suggest that vitamin C significantly reduced the severity and incidence of fluoride-induced embryotoxicity in rats.
authors.affiliation: Department of Zoology, University School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Verma
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Sherlin
mesh_terms: D000014:Abnormalities, Drug-Induced / Q000517:prevention & control*; D000284:Administration, Oral; D000818:Animals; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001835:Body Weight / Q000187:drug effects; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000187:drug effects; D004435:Eating / Q000187:drug effects; D010064:Embryo Implantation / Q000187:drug effects; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D009929:Organ Size / Q000187:drug effects; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D014599:Uterus / Q000187:drug effects; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D013723:Teratogens; D014810:Vitamin E; D012969:Sodium Fluoride; D001205:Ascorbic Acid