title: Fluoride concentration in dentine as a biomarker of fluoride intake in European roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) - an electron-microprobe study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Fluoride concentration in dentine has been recommended as the best marker for the level of chronic fluoride intake and the most suitable indicator of an individual's total body burden of fluoride. We analysed fluoride concentrations in the dentine of cheek teeth of European roe deer from fluoride-polluted habitats to retrospectively assess the level of fluoride uptake into the tissue. Thereby, we tested the hypothesis of the existence of mechanisms that limit fluoride intake of individuals and fluoride exposure of forming dental hard tissues during the late foetal and early postnatal periods in the species.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using electron-microprobe analysis, fluoride profiles were obtained on sectioned P(4)s, M(1)s, and M(3)s from individuals exhibiting pronounced dental fluorosis. Fluoride concentrations were compared between early formed (peripheral) and late-formed (juxtapulpal) dentine both within single teeth and amongst the three different teeth studied.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Peripheral dentine of the M(1), which is formed during the late foetal and early postnatal periods, exhibited markedly lower fluoride concentrations than juxtapulpal dentine of the same tooth and both, peripheral and juxtapulpal dentine of P(4) and M(3) that are formed post-weaning.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study provides strong support for the hypothesis that in the European roe deer the prenatal and early postnatal (pre-weaning) stages of dental development are (largely) protected against exposure to excess fluoride. This is attributed to the operation of certain protective mechanisms during these periods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Hildesheim, Marienburger Platz 22, 31141 Hildesheim, Germany. kierdorf@uni-hildesheim.de
authors.forename: Heiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Richter
authors.forename: Uwe
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kierdorf
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Melcher
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kierdorf
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001641:Bicuspid / Q000737:chemistry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001822:Body Burden; D002118:Calcium / Q000032:analysis; D018153:Czech Republic; D003670:Deer; D003743:Dental Enamel / Q000737:chemistry; D003804:Dentin / Q000737:chemistry*; D004577:Electron Probe Microanalysis; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D009050:Fluorosis, Dental / Q000145:classification / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008334:Mandible / Q000737:chemistry; D008963:Molar / Q000737:chemistry; D009805:Odontogenesis / Q000502:physiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014018:Tissue Distribution
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D005459:Fluorides; D002118:Calcium