title: Effects of Fluoride on DNA Damage and Caspase-Mediated Apoptosis in the Liver of Rats.
abstract: Fluoride compounds are abundant and widely distributed in the environment at a variety of concentrations. Further, fluoride induces toxic effects in target organs such as the liver. In this study, we investigated liver histopathology, DNA damage, apoptosis, and the mRNA and protein expressions of caspase-3 and -9 in the rat livers by administering varying concentrations of fluoride (0, 50, 100, 200 mg/L ) for 120 days. The results showed fluoride-induced morphological changes and significantly increased apoptosis and DNA damage in rats exposed to fluoride, especially in response to higher doses. The immunohistochemical and qRT-PCR results indicated that caspase-3, caspase-9 protein positive expression and mRNA relative expression enhanced with increasing NaF concentration. In summary, our findings suggest that chronic exposure to fluoride causes damages to liver histopathology and leads to liver apoptosis through caspase-mediated pathways.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory Animal Center, Shanxi Key Laboratory of Experimental Animal Science and Animal Model of Human Disease, Shanxi Medical University, Road Xinjian 56, Taiyuan, 030001, China, ghsongg@hotmail.com.
authors.forename: Guo Hua
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Song
authors.forename: Fu Bing
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ji Ping
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: Mao Lin
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Wen Biao
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: Wei bin
authors.initials: Wb
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiao Yan
authors.initials: XY
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Mei Jun
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Huo
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics; D053148:Caspase 3 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D053453:Caspase 9 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D020169:Caspases / Q000378:metabolism*; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000187:drug effects*; D005459:Fluorides / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008099:Liver / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley
chemical_list: D053148:Caspase 3; D053453:Caspase 9; D020169:Caspases; D005459:Fluorides