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Fluoride 1999; 32: 204-214

Effects of protein supplementation and deficiency on fluoride-induced toxicity in reproductive organs of male mice

NJ Chinoy and Dipti Mehta

Department of Zoology, School of Sciences, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India

Summary: Feeding a protein-deficient diet to male mice treated for 30 days with NaF (5, 10, 20 mg/kg body weight) caused a significant decrease in protein levels in testeis, cauda epididymis, and vas deferens. The activity of testicular SDH and 3B- and 17B-HDS as well as ATPase in cauda epididymis and vas deferens also decreased as compared to controls fed a normal protein diet. The decrease was more significant in mice treated with 10 and 20 mg NaF/kg than with 5 mg/kg. By contrast, levels of cholesterol in testis and glycogen in the vas deferens were significantly enhanced as compared to controls. A protein-supplemented diet fed along with NaF in the same three doses did not cause any change in these parameters, which remained the same as the controls.

These results clearly indicate that protein supplementation is beneficial to overcome the toxic effects of fluoride on testicular steroidogenesis, protein, carbohydrate, and energy and oxidation metabolisms in the reporductive organs of male mice. Protein deficiency, on the other hand, aggravates fluoride toxicity. A protein-supplemented diet might therefore substantially mitigate certain fluoride-induced health hazards in humans living in endemic areas.

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