THYROID FUNCTION AND BONE MATURATION OF THEIR SUCKLING PUPS

SUMMARY: Our aim was to study the effects on thyroid function and bone maturation in suckling Wistar mice resulting from ingestion by their mothers of 500 ppm NaF in their drinking water from the 15th day of pregnancy until the 14th day after delivery, at which time the pups were sacrificed. Compared to a control group, the suckling mice from the NaF-treated mothers showed a 15 % decrease in body weight and a reduction in plasma free T4 and T3 hormones by 15 % and 6%, respectively. Compared to the control group, a 10 % and 3 % increase was observed in the fluoride content of bone and urine, but no significant change was found in the plasma. These changes were confirmed by bioanalytical data concerning the bone mineral content. Calcium and phosphate levels of bone decreased by 30 % and 27%, respectively. The calcium concentration in plasma increased by 34%, and the phosphorus concentration in plasma decreased by 26%, while urinary levels of calcium decreased by 25 % and those of phosphate increased by 28%. These results suggest that fluoride accelerated bone resorption activity. In fact, biochemical markers such as total tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (ACP) and total alkaline phosphatase (ALP) increased significantly by 46 % and 35%, respectively