title: Fluoride does not induce DNA breakage in Chinese hamster ovary cells in vitro.
abstract: Fluoride has been widely used in dentistry because it is a specific and effective caries prophylactic agent. However, excess fluoride may represent a hazard to human health, especially by causing injury to genetic material. Genotoxicity tests represent an important part of cancer research to assess the risk of potential carcinogens. In the current study, the potential DNA damage associated with exposure to fluoride was assessed by the single cell gel (comet) assay in vitro. Chinese hamster ovary cells were exposed to sodium fluoride (NaF) at final concentration ranging from 7 to 100 micro/ml for 3 h, at 37 dgrees C. The results pointed out that NaF in all concentrations tested did not contribute to DNA damage as depicted by the mean tail moment and tail intensity. These findings are clinically important since they represent an important contribution to a correct evaluation of the potential health risk associated with the exposure to dental agents.
authors.affiliation: Researcher of Center for Genotoxins and Carcinogens Evaluation (TOXICAN), Department of Pathology, School of Medicine of Botucatu, São Paulo State University.
authors.forename: Daniel Araki
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.forename: Clarissa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scolastici
authors.forename: Mariângela Esther Alencar
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Marques
authors.forename: Daisy Maria Fávero
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Salvadori
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016466:CHO Cells / Q000187:drug effects*; D020552:Comet Assay; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D012969:Sodium Fluoride / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D012969:Sodium Fluoride